Opposition leader backs extending state of emergency

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli Thursday voiced support for the National Security Council's (MGK) advice to the government to extend the state of emergency by three months.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, MHP Chairman Bahçeli said his party thinks the MGK's decision is correct on the grounds that the state of emergency helps the state fight terrorist groups better. "Extending the state of emergency by three months will be beneficial," Bahçeli said, adding that Turkey is circled both from within and abroad by enemies.

Underscoring that Turkey needs to get rid of the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) elements within the state, Bahçeli said that the MHP's support in this regard will continue "until the end." "The common soul at Yenikapı [rally] is an example of it," he said. The MHP chairman added that the terrorist group has been trying to put the FETÖ investigations in the shade.

Touching on the fight against another terrorist group, the PKK, Bahçeli said that there is not a Kurdish problem. "For us, there is no Kurdish problem. Our citizens of Kurdish origin have more social and economic problems than they are supposed to have," he added. Bahçeli also claimed that FETÖ and the PKK are the same. "The PKK is exactly what FETÖ is. FETÖ is exactly the same as Daish," he contended.