Turkey's fascist Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said on Monday it would back President Tayyip Erdoğan in the 2019 election.
"The MHP will not submit a presidential candidate," MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli told a news conference. "The MHP will take a decision to support Erdoğan in the presidential elections." Turkey will vote for both president and parliament next year.
Bahçeli said he wanted to preserve the "spirit of unity and togetherness" since Turkey's July 2016 military coup attempt and voiced his willingness to form a pre-election alliance with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
MHP backed the vote to grant Erdoğan sweeping executive powers in last year's presidential referendum.
RULING PARTY WELCOMES MHP'S SUPPORT
Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ has welcomed the MHP's decision to support Erdoğan in the next presidential election.
"We respect the decision of the MHP and we welcome their statement that they will support our president's candidacy for the presidency," Bozdağ told reporters following the weekly cabinet meeting on Jan. 8, underlining that Erdoğan will be the AKP's candidate.
Bozdağ said the two parties will discuss Bahçeli’s proposal in the coming days.
