Turkey Court Gives Go-Ahead for Right-Wing Party Congress

W460

Turkey's appeals court Tuesday ruled that the right-wing MHP party can hold an extraordinary congress that could see its long-serving leader ousted and shake up the enfeebled opposition to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Dissident members from the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) were barred from holding a party congress this month as police put up barricades around the Ankara hotel where the gathering was to be held.

The appeals court unanimously upheld a lower court ruling that the congress should go ahead despite the objections of party leader Devlet Bahceli, NTV television channel reported.

No date has been set for the next congress.

MHP dissidents have launched a campaign to oust the 68-year-old Bahceli after the party did poorly in the November election, securing only 40 seats in the 550-member parliament.

Four contenders to succeed Bahceli include 59-year-old Meral Aksener, former interior minister.

A change of leadership in the MHP could boost support for the party and dent Erdogan's plans to receive a big enough majority in the next elections to realize his bid for greater powers.

The hardline leadership style of Bahceli, who has headed the MHP since 1997, has alienated many party voters who headed to the ruling Justice and Development Party which has adopted an increasingly nationalist tone in recent years.

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