Berlin acknowledges MHP's increasing influence on AKP government

The German government has for the first time in a clear and explicit way expressed the MHP's increasing influence on the AKP government. “The federal government has information that the number of people connected to the MHP has distinguishably increased in the state structures,” Berlin said in its response to a parliamentary question filed by Left Party.

Tuesday March 23 2021 06:20 pm

Erdoğan (R) and Bahçeli are seen in this file photo.

Duvar English

Germany's Left Party has submitted a parliamentary question to the Angela Merkel government inquiring about the role of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) in the Turkish government.

The German federal government said in its answer that it is aware of the increasing influence of the MHP on the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, Deutsche Welle's Turkish service reported on March 23.

“The federal government observes that the MHP's political demands are being reciprocated by the Turkish government members and these demands are being regularly incorporated into the [Turkish] laws. Additionally, the federal government has information that the number of people connected to the MHP has distinguishably increased in the state structures,” the Merkel government reportedly said in its answer.

The is the first time that Berlin has in an explicit and clear way acknowledged the MHP's growing influence on the AKP government.

"Hükümet son yıllarda MHP çevresinden kişilerin devlet yapılarındaki oranının farkedilir biçimde arttığına dair bilgi sahibi"

Alman hükümeti, Sol Parti'nin soru önergesine yanıtında MHP'nin AKP üzerindeki etkisini ilk kez açık ve net biçimde dile getirdi https://t.co/inW96vx55E
— DW Türkçe (@dw_turkce) March 23, 2021

Left Party MP Ulla Jelpke, who submitted the parliamentary question on behalf of the party, said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip is “ready in every way for an alliance with the fascist MHP in order to stay power, considering the decreasing sympathy” for the AKP.

“The German government needs to comprehend that every time it holds a meeting with Ankara, Ülkücüler [ultra-nationalist Turks] sit as an invisible partner in the table...Fascists cannot be a partner of the German government,” Jelpke said.

The Left Party MP also commented on the recent Turkish move seeking the closure of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), saying it “is Erdoğan's gift to the MHP to get the party's support for a long time.”

Berlin also answered another parliamentary question on the targeting of AKP critics in Germany. It said that Germany's Federal Criminal Police (BKA) registered 24 offenses in the category of “threats” targeting AKP critics between Jan. 1, 2016 and March 2, 2021. This number only reflects the official figures and does not unregistered cases, Berlin noted.

Jelpke also asked in the MHP-related parliamentary question if the German government is considering banning the Turkish nationalist Ülkücü movement in the country, also known as the Gray Wolves.

The Interior Ministry said in its answer that it cannot comment on the question as it has been reviewing the case. “Within the framework of rule of law, the federal government is ready at all times to fight with groups that pursue extremist goals. This also includes a review on banning the relevant groups. As a principle, the federal government cannot comment on the possible bans which are currently being reviewed,” it said.

In November, German parties submitted a motion to parliament which sought to ban groups linked to the Gray Wolves, following in the footsteps of France.