Obstructionist MHP does it again

It became clear on Monday that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the National Movement Party (MHP) will not form a coalition partnership. This was not a surprise because the MHP's leader Devlet Bahçeli has been insisting on not taking part in any coalition government by intensifying his negative rhetoric since June 7. In fact, Bahçeli is following in Selahattin Demeritaş's footsteps. Before June 7, Demirtaş's election strategy was largely dependent on anti-Erdoğan rhetoric. In this way, Demirtaş wanted to attract the support of certain segments that accommodate great hostility toward President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Bahçeli has been pursuing the same strategy after the election. He conveys his arguments with harsh anti-Erdoğan rhetoric, which was detrimental and even, from time-to-time, disregards the rules of courtesy. But this will not create the reaction he wanted among the MHP's base, since the MHP's base is not just about Erdoğan hatred. On the contrary, it is projected that a certain amount of voters in Turkey change their support between the AK Party and the MHP in every election. In the 52 percent that voted for Erdoğan in the presidential election, there were conservative and nationalist votes. Therefore, Bahçeli's strategy will not bring the result he wants.

It was not only this... It was revealed in Monday's meeting that the MHP leader Bahçeli says "no" to almost everything. He is not eager to form either a coalition or minority government, which can possibly lead Turkey into snap elections. He does not want to convey his support if Parliament votes for the early election option. According to his design, the AK Party and the Republican People's Party (CHP) will both weaken during this process and the MHP can boost its strength.

But how can this ever happen? Unlike before, the MHP currently has the status of the party that blocks politics. Turkish politics is in grave deadlock at the moment. The opposition parties neither want to form a coalition with the AK Party nor pave the way for an election. Surveys conducted lately reveal that the MHP has the most obvious decline in its support. Since June 7, the MHP has lost almost two points and it will continue to lose support if the party insists on its blocking policies.

Another interesting point is the Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) silence. With the PKK waging a full-fledged war against the Turkish state, the HDP so far has not developed a tangible response. The HDP may not have any hope of being a coalition partner, but where is Demirtaş, who was eagerly participating in the anti-Erdoğan campaign before June 7? Why does he not say, "I am here and I can open this deadlock?" Why does he not remember the 13 percent support his party had in the election? This deadlock in Turkish politics can only be opened if the political parties' leaders adopt a solution-oriented attitude, rather than making plans to increase their parties' votes. Turkey cannot accommodate this uncertainty any longer. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu had his meetings with the party leaders and worked toward a solution with the best of his efforts but from this point on, if a coalition government cannot be formed, the best option is to figure out a formula that can lead Turkey to the polls as soon as possible. Parties like the MHP should not be allowed to block politics like this.