Five opposition leaders remain 'determined' despite split in alliance

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Leaders of five opposition parties met today (March 4) after Good (İYİ) Party leader Meral Akşener withdrew her party from the six-party alliance known as the "Table of Six."

The leaders gathered at the headquarters of the Felicity (Saadet) Party in Ankara, the capital, at around 5 p.m.

After the meeting that took over fours, they issued a joint statement, saying that the alliance "is determined to continue its work in the same direction today as it was found on the first day in line with the principles and goals."

"We are determined to build and revitalise the "Turkey of tomorrow" without being stuck in yesterday and today! We will continue on our way without excluding any member of our 85 million people, without breaking anyone's heart and without negating their trust," said the leaders. "Our goal is a victory with no losers!"

Akşener's move

A day before, Akşener revealed that the five leaders had agreed on the candidacy of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), whereas she had proposed that one of the mayors of Ankara and İstanbul should be the candidate.

Akşener's move marked the end of the round table meetings of the six leaders that have been going on for a year now.

On Thursday, the leaders held their 12th meeting, after which they announced that "we have reached a common understanding" about the bloc's presidential candidate. The leaders said they would make a "final announcement" after a meeting on March 6.

Akşener won't be attending this meeting, a deputy chair for her party, Musavat Dervişoğlu, said today after a meeting of the party executives.

Akşener's move broke the six-party alliance months into the crucial elections, which has been widely anticipated as the toughest challenge for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his two-decade rule, especially amid an economic crisis and the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes.

While the presidential and parliamentary elections are formally scheduled for June 18 Erdoğan has been expressing his intentions to bring the polls forward to May 14.

The Table of Six

The six-party bloc comprises the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), the İYİ (Good) Party, the Democracy and Progress (DEVA) Party, the Gelecek (Future) Party, the Saadet (Felicity) Party and the Democratic Party (DP).

Leaders of the parties had their first round table meeting on February 22, 2022, to address the country's problems and discuss solutions.

On February 28, they signed a memorandum of understanding to switch to what they called an "enforced parliamentary system" after the elections. Such a change would require the opposition bloc to have a three-fifth majority in the parliament, which is not likely according to election polls.

The DEVA Party, led by former deputy PM Ali Babacan, and the Gelecek Party, led by former PM Ahmet Davutoğlu, are the two splinter movements from the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The Saadet Party also shares the same Islamic roots with the AKP, which has been in power for over 20 years.

İYİ Party is a splinter movement from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the allies of the ruling party.

The four parties other than the CHP and the İYİ Party have no significant popular support, with their voting rates below 3 percent, according to most election polls. However, their support may prove crucial in what is anticipated to be a close race.

(ME/VK)