Turkey: Opposition MHP moves to expel former deputy

By Mehmet Tosun

ANKARA

A former deputy of Turkey’s opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) now faces possible expulsion over violating the party rules, the MHP said Tuesday.

According to a statement issued by party HQ in Ankara, a total of four members, including ex-Deputy Meral Aksener, a vocal challenger for the party leadership, were sent to the party’s disciplinary committee for discharge proceedings.

The members are accused of breaking sections of the party constitution which require cooperation, communication, and mutual respect among the party insiders.

The revolt among MHP members was sparked by last November’s general election, where the MHP narrowly got into parliament and won the least number of seats among all parliament’s parties, just 40 out of 550.

The party rebels have been fighting to remove Chairman Devlet Bahceli, who has led the MHP for nearly 30 years. The dissidents tried to call a party congress earlier this year, but they were blocked by the leadership.