As Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Deputy Tuğrul Türkeş accepted an offer to take part in the caretaker government formed on Friday, replacing Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç, defamation claims concerning Türkeş that indicated that he was being threatened and blackmailed became more widespread. Commenting on the claims, Türkeş said that such reports and claims were untrue and that he prefers to remain silent, saying the claims are insignificant. Türkeş received strong criticism from MHP members after accepting Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's invitation, and as a result he has been sent to his party's disciplinary commission in efforts to expel him from the party.

With MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli continuing his uncompromising attitude since the June 7 elections, closing the party's doors to any possible coalition option to form a government, Türkeş's participation in the caretaker government is considered a major blow to the MHP's alienation policy against the Justice and Development Party (AK Party). In this regard, Bahçeli called Türkeş's decision "treason," and MHP Vice Chairman Semih Yalçın urged Türkeş to resign from the party. In response, Türkeş said that he will answer the criticism on Monday following the Cabinet meeting.

In regard to claims that indicate Türkeş received a TL 400,000 ($137,000) jeep as a bribe to participate in the caretaker government, Türkeş said that such reports are absurd and he is still unable to get the TL 10,000 to TL 15,000 car for his son. It has further been claimed that Türkeş accepted Davutoğlu's invitation to in efforts to use government officials' special plated cars. Türkeş also refuted this claim and added that he did not even use the vehicle that the party had assigned to him. While Türkeş refused to comment further on the claims, in recent remarks he also dismissed reports of being blackmailed through video recordings of his personal life.