Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli said yesterday that his party will continue to support the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) ahead of the upcoming elections with the aim of establishing the new governmental system.

Speaking at the MHP group meeting, Bahçeli said the party will not be indifferent to developments if political divisions grow in the process and if Republican People's Party (CHP) allies with Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and others against the change of governmental system.

"In such a case, our party will continue its efforts along with the AK Party to fully establish the new governmental system in 2019," Bahçeli said, and added that the MHP will keep its "coherent and resolute" political position since the July 15 coup attempt. He said the responsibility his party has taken since July 15 for Turkey to have a governmental system through democratization, normalization and stability will continue.

Commenting on Bahçeli's remarks, AK Party spokesperson Mahir Ünal said yesterday the AK Party was allied to all the local and national elements. He added that it was too early to interpret Bahçeli's comments as that of an electoral alliance. "These matters will be discussed in time. The party organs will make the final decision," Ünal said.

Asserting that the CHP aims to deepen the divisions and draw the bloc of those who opposed the April 16 referendum to his side, Bahçeli said CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has been welcoming everyone to join his bloc, referring to the HDP.

Bahçeli recently said that the 10 percent electoral threshold should be decreased. Some have argued that the MHP has concerns over the upcoming elections and will be unable to pass the threshold. Commenting on the recent debate, Bahçeli said the MHP is not afraid of the 10 percent electoral threshold and that the arguments have no basis in reality.

He criticized the CHP for its remarks that the MHP brought up the issue because of its concerns for the upcoming elections. Bahçeli pointed out that his party has criticized the electoral threshold for years, as it leads to injustice. He also said that the issue should be discussed during adjustment law talks. "A great part of votes have not been represented in Parliament as a result of the 10 percent electoral threshold," Bahçeli said, adding that the electoral threshold in Turkey is the highest among European countries.