Turkey: MHP to back AK Party parliament speaker nominee

By Mehmet Tosun

ANKARA

The leader of Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader on Wednesday pledged his party’s support for the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party’s choice to replace the outgoing parliament speaker.

"Whoever the AK Party nominates for parliament speaker, the MHP will support that candidate," Devlet Bahceli said during a visit to Mehmet Ozhaseki, the AK Party's candidate for mayor of Ankara, Turkey’s capital.

Bahceli also praised current speaker Binali Yildirim's decision to step down on Feb. 18, as he is the AK Party candidate mayoral candidate for Istanbul, Turkey’s most populous city.

"This is a noble act [from Yildirim]. This decision comes from a strong will, showing he is not under the influence of propaganda," Bahceli said.

"For me, the issue of being parliament speaker will be over as of Feb. " Yildirim said on Tuesday.