Devlet Bahçeli (born 1 January 1948) is a Turkish politician, economist, former deputy prime minister, and current chairman of the far-right,{{cite news |last=Uras |first=Umut |date=29 March 2019 |title=New test for Erdogan: What's at stake in Turkish local elections? |work=Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/test-erdogan-stake-turkish-local-elections-190327190617999.html |access-date=27 October 2019}} ultranationalist{{cite journal |author=Arman, Murat Necip |date=2007 |title=The Sources Of Banality In Transforming Turkish Nationalism |journal=CEU Political Science Journal |issue=2 |pages=133–151}} Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).{{cite news|url=http://www.todayszaman.com/news-230544-ak-party-ratchets-up-rhetoric-on-bilingual-and-autonomy-debate.html|title=AK Party ratchets up rhetoric on bilingual and autonomy debate|newspaper=Today's Zaman|date=24 December 2010|access-date=25 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225134101/http://www.todayszaman.com/news-230544-ak-party-ratchets-up-rhetoric-on-bilingual-and-autonomy-debate.html|archive-date=25 December 2010}}

An academic in economics from Gazi University, Bahçeli is a founder of the Grey Wolves, and was elected as the chairman of the MHP in the first congress held after the death of Alparslan Türkeş in 1997. He entered parliament for the first time in the 1999 general election as a deputy from Osmaniye, taking part as deputy prime minister in DSP-MHP-ANAP coalition between 1999 and 2002, and ultimately brought the government down. He resigned from his position as chairman when his party fell below the 10% electoral threshold in the 2002 general election, but was re-elected chairman in the 2003 congress. Bahçeli and his party have been serving in the Grand National Assembly since regaining their seats in parliament in 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.tbmm.gov.tr/develop/owa/milletvekillerimiz_sd.bilgi?p_donem=24&p_sicil=5801|title=Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi 24. Dönem Milletvekili (Devlet Bahçeli/Osmaniye)|publisher=Grand National Assembly of Turkey|access-date=15 July 2011|language=tr}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tbmm.gov.tr/develop/owa/milletvekillerimiz_sd.liste|title=24. Dönem Milletvekilleri Listesi (Osmaniye)|publisher=Grand National Assembly of Turkey|access-date=15 July 2011|language=tr}}

Bahçeli was initially a fierce critic of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan throughout the 2000s and 2010s until an interparty crisis occurred following MHP's poor performance in the November 2015 general election. With Bahçeli's newfound closeness to Erdoğan after the crisis, a schism occurred in his party which culminated in Meral Akşener founding the Good Party in 2017.

Bahçeli formed an electoral alliance with the Justice and Development Party (AKP) called the People's Alliance for the 2018 general election and maintained this alliance in the 2019 local elections. MHP currently supports president Erdoğan's cabinet with confidence and supply in the Grand National Assembly. Bahçeli has been described as a kingmaker in Turkish politics.{{cite web|title=Kingmaker brings ultra-nationalism to Erdogan's Islamist mix|url=https://www.ft.com/content/bb04bb2e-7b91-11e8-bc55-50daf11b720d|date=29 June 2018|publisher=Financial Times}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/opinion/serkan-demirtas/is-turkeys-opposition-ready-for-snap-elections-130472|title=Is Turkey's opposition ready for snap elections?|date=18 April 2020|publisher=Hürriyet Daily News}}

Early life

Devlet Bahçeli was born on 1 January 1948, in the rural district of Bahçe in the province of Osmaniye. According to his own account, Bahçeli belonged to a well established Turkmen family known as "Fettahoğulları",{{cite web |title=Devlet Bahçeli Kimdir? - Devlet Bahçeli Hayatı ve Biyografisi |url=https://www.haberler.com/devlet-bahceli/biyografisi/ |website=Haberler |access-date=1 March 2023 |language=tr}}{{cite web |title=Abdurrahman Dilipak: Devlet Bahçeli benim neyim olur? |url=https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/abdurrahman-dilipak-devlet-bahceli-benim-neyim-olur-haber-1552610 |website=GazeteDuvar |date=2 October 2022 |access-date=1 March 2023}} and is one of the four children of his family, with two siblings from his father's first marriage.{{Cite web|date=5 February 2011|title=Devlet Bahçeli'ye "evlilik" sorusu|url=http://www.objektifhaber.com/devlet-bahceliye-evlilik-sorusu-68866-haber/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207215711/http://www.objektifhaber.com/haber/guncel/siyaset/devlet-bahceliye-evlilik-sorusu-68866.html|archive-date=7 February 2011|website=Objectif Haber}} According to Hrant Dink, he also has Armenian ancestry, in spite of his fervently anti-Armenian views.{{Cite book |last=Göçek |first=Fatma Müge |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q-eMBAAAQBAJ&q=Devlet+Bah%C3%A7eli |title=Denial of Violence: Ottoman Past, Turkish Present and Collective Violence Against the Armenians, 1789-2009 |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-933420-9 |language=en}}

His father, Salih Bahçeli, was one of the well-known farmers and merchants of Osmaniye. His mother's name was Samiye.{{Cite web|title=Türki̇ye Büyük Mi̇llet Mecli̇si̇|url=https://www.tbmm.gov.tr/develop/owa/milletvekillerimiz_sd.bilgi?p_donem=26&p_sicil=5801|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604013840/https://www.tbmm.gov.tr/develop/owa/milletvekillerimiz_sd.bilgi?p_donem=26&p_sicil=5801|archive-date=4 June 2016|website=Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi}} Devlet's father grew up in a left-wing family, and was a supporter of İsmet İnönü and the Republican People's Party (CHP).{{Cite web|date=14 July 2015|title=Bahçeli'nin babası hangi partiliydi|url=http://odatv.com/bahcelinin-babasi-hangi-partiliydi-1407151200.html|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530165533/http://odatv.com/bahcelinin-babasi-hangi-partiliydi-1407151200.html|archive-date=30 May 2016|website=OdaTV}}{{Cite web|date=17 April 2017|title=Portre: Devlet Bahçeli|url=http://www.aljazeera.com.tr/portre/portre-devlet-bahceli|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027064825/http://www.aljazeera.com.tr/portre/portre-devlet-bahceli|archive-date=27 October 2014|website=Al Jazeera}}

Education

He completed his primary education in his hometown of Osmaniye.{{Cite book|title=Turkey country report 2015 |date=31 December 2014|publisher=Rethink Institute |isbn=978-1-938300-24-0|location=Washington DC|oclc=925377023}} Devlet attended secondary school with his elder brother Servet in Adana Private Çukurova College. He lived with his relatives in İstanbul for his high school education and enrolled in Emirgan Akgün College. In his second year of high school, Bahçeli transferred to Private Ata College in Etiler and received his high school diploma from this school. He was accepted into Gazi University in 1967 and graduated from its Foreign Trade Department in 1971. Among his classmates were future political rival Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who Bahçeli called "my classmate" in numerous occasions{{Cite web |date=2022-12-05 |title=Bahçeli'nin 'altılı masa'daki cumhurbaşkanı adayı 'sınıf arkadaşı' - Diken |url=https://www.diken.com.tr/bahcelinin-altili-masadaki-cumhurbaskani-adayi-sinif-arkadasi/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=www.diken.com.tr |language=tr}} and former football referee Erman Toroğlu.{{Cite web |title=Erman Toroğlu'nun Bahçeli ve Kılıçdaroğlu anısı gündem oldu |url=https://t24.com.tr/video/erman-toroglu-nun-bahceli-ve-kilicdaroglu-ile-ilgili-anisi-gundem-oldu,50594 |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=T24 |language=Turkish}}

Bahçeli worked as an assistant in the department of economics at Gazi University and affiliated high schools in 1972. During this period he was one of the founders of the Idealist Association of Financiers and Economists, and one of the founders and chairman of the Association of University Academy and Schools Assistants (UMID-BIR). He also founded and was leader of the University Academy and Schools Assistantship Association (ÜNAY). He received his doctorate in economics from Gazi University Institute of Social Sciences and continued lecturing in the department of economic policy at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences of the same university until 1987. Dr. Bahçeli was also interested in Turkish history, economics, and foreign policy while working for his degree.{{Cite web|title=Özgeçmiş|url=http://www.devletbahceli.com.tr/htmldocs/index/icerik/2/ozgecmis.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629222038/http://www.devletbahceli.com.tr/htmldocs/index/icerik/2/ozgecmis.html|archive-date=29 June 2016|website=Devlet Bahçeli}}

Early political career

In his youth, Bahçeli attended Alparslan Türkeş's seminars, chairman of the Republican Villagers Nation Party, the predecessor of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). While he was still a student at Gazi University in 1967, he worked as the founder and manager of the Grey Wolves. He served as the general secretary of the Turkish National Student Union between 1970 and 1971.

After the 1980 coup Bahçeli defended executives and members of the MHP and other nationalist organizations who were imprisoned. Bahçeli resigned from his teaching position in 1987, when Türkeş requested his involvement in party politics, and was elected general secretary of the Nationalist Task Party (MÇP) in their 1987 congress. Bahçeli served in several positions in the upper echelons of the MÇP and MHP at various times.{{Cite web|title=Devlet Bahçeli Biyografisi|url=https://www.biyografi.info/kisi/devlet-bahceli|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610222651/http://www.biyografi.info/kisi/devlet-bahceli|archive-date=10 June 2016|website=Biyografi}}

Leader of the MHP

File:MHPkongre1997.png

After the death of Alparslan Türkeş in May 1997 an Extraordinary Congress was held, in which Bahçeli contested Alparslan's son Tuğrul Türkeş for the chairmanship. In the following hours of the congress, all candidates except Türkeş withdrew from the candidacy in favor of Bahçeli. However the congress was postponed due to a fight between the two nationalists and their supporters. At another extraordinary congress held in July, Devlet Bahçeli won the run-off election against Tuğrul Türkeş and was elected the new chairman of the MHP.{{Cite web|date=28 August 2015|title=1997'deki kongreyi Türkeş kazandı ama…|url=https://www.yeniakit.com.tr/haber/1997deki-kongreyi-turkes-kazandi-ama-89720.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821015638/http://www.yeniakit.com.tr/haber/1997deki-kongreyi-turkes-kazandi-ama-89720.html|archive-date=21 August 2016|website=Akit}}{{Cite web|date=2 November 2012|title=MHP Kurultay Tarihi|url=blog.milliyet.com.tr/mhp-kurultay-tarihi/Blog/?BlogNo=385763|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222040837/http://blog.milliyet.com.tr/mhp-kurultay-tarihi/Blog/?BlogNo=385763|archive-date=22 December 2014|website=Milliyet Blog}}

= Deputy prime minister =

File:Devlet Bahçeli Miting.png 25 March 2014]]

With a new leader, the MHP increased its vote share from 8.18% to 17.98% in 1999 election, its highest vote rate in its history and became the second largest party.{{Cite web|title=Genel Seçim 1999|url=https://www.haberturk.com/secim1999|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629203601/http://www.haberturk.com/secim1999|archive-date=29 June 2016|website=Haber Turk}} Devlet Bahçeli served as a deputy prime minister in the subsequent coalition government (DSP-Motherland-MHP) of Bülent Ecevit. Bahçeli announced on 7 July 2002 of his withdrawal of support for the government, calling for new elections to be held on 3 November, and campaigned for fixing Turkey's economy in the lead up to the general election.{{Cite web|date=29 September 2002|title=Genel Başkanımız Dr. Devlet Bahçeli'nin 3 Kasım Seçimleri, Seçim Beyannamesi Tanıtım Toplantısında Yapmış Oldukları Konuşma 29 Eylül 2002|url=https://www.mhp.org.tr/htmldocs/genel_baskan/konusma/255/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716182137/http://mhp.org.tr/htmldocs/genel_baskan/konusma/255/index.html|archive-date=16 July 2017|website=MHP}} However the MHP was expelled from parliament for not passing the 10% electoral threshold in the 2002 election, polling 8%.{{Cite web|last=Saydamer|first=Kemal|date=4 November 2002|title=Baraj altında kalan partilerde deprem|url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/baraj-altinda-kalan-partilerde-deprem-107554|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722184610/http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/baraj-altinda-kalan-partilerde-deprem-107554|archive-date=22 July 2016|website=Hürriyet}}{{Cite web|title=Genel Seçim 2002|url=https://www.haberturk.com/secim2002|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623013418/http://www.haberturk.com/secim2002|archive-date=23 June 2016|website=Haber Turk}} Bahçeli resigned his chairmanship, announcing "I am the only one responsible for the failure",{{Cite web|date=12 August 2014|title=Tarih 3 Kasım 2002: Bahçeli böyle istifa etmişti|url=https://www.yenisafak.com/video-galeri/politika/tarih-3-kasim-2002-bahceli-boyle-istifa-etmisti-19359|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810114453/http://www.yenisafak.com/video-galeri/politika/tarih-3-kasim-2002-bahceli-boyle-istifa-etmisti-19359|archive-date=10 August 2016|website=Yeni Şafak}} but was reelected in the party's 2003 congress in a competition between Ramiz Ongun, Koray Aydın, and Aytekin Yıldırım.{{Cite web|date=12 October 2003|title=MHP'de Bahçeli yeniden Genel Başkan|url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/mhpde-bahceli-yeniden-genel-baskan-176765|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806161536/http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/mhpde-bahceli-yeniden-genel-baskan-176765|archive-date=6 August 2016|website=Hürriyet}}

= Opposition =

Bahçeli was again re-elected as MHP chairman in a congress held on 19 November 2006.{{Cite web|date=19 November 2006|title=Bahçeli yeniden genel başkan|url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/bahceli-yeniden-genel-baskan-5467503|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802072118/http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/bahceli-yeniden-genel-baskan-5467503|archive-date=2 August 2016|website=Hürriyet}} In the 2007 general election, he and his party reentered parliament, receiving 14.27% of the votes.{{Cite web|title=Genel Seçim 2007|url=https://www.haberturk.com/secim2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703040656/http://www.haberturk.com/secim2007|archive-date=3 July 2016|website=Haber Turk}} Bahçeli campaigned in the 2011 general election promising 7% GDP growth and a change in electoral laws.{{Cite web|date=28 January 2011|title=İşte MHP'nin seçim vaatleri!|url=https://www.haberturk.com/gundem/haber/596028-iste-mhpnin-secim-vaatleri|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817130004/http://www.haberturk.com/gundem/haber/596028-iste-mhpnin-secim-vaatleri|archive-date=17 August 2016|website=Haber Turk}} The MHP's vote share decreased to 13%.{{Cite web|title=HTSeçim 2011|url=https://www.haberturk.com/secim/secim2011/genel-secim|url-status=live|website=Haber Turk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528012732/http://www.haberturk.com:80/secim/secim2011/genel-secim |archive-date=2015-05-28 }} Bahçeli was re-elected as the chairman in party congresses held in 2012 and 2015.{{Cite web|title=Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi Genel Başkanı Devlet Bahçeli Hayatı|url=https://www.mhp.org.tr/htmldocs/genel_baskan/hayati/mhp/Devlet_Bahceli.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622163155/http://www.mhp.org.tr/htmldocs/genel_baskan/hayati/mhp/Devlet_Bahceli.html|archive-date=22 June 2016|website=MHP}}

The slogan of the election campaign used by the MHP for the June 2015 general election was "Bizimle yürü Türkiye!" (Walk with us, Turkey!){{Cite web|date=10 April 2015|title=MHP'nin yeni seçim sloganı sosyal medyayı salladı|url=https://www.yenimeram.com.tr/mhpnin-yeni-secim-slogani-sosyal-medyayi-salladi-148345.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820095508/http://www.yenimeram.com.tr/mhpnin-yeni-secim-slogani-sosyal-medyayi-salladi-148345.htm|archive-date=20 August 2016|website=Yeni Meram}} The party increased their vote more than 3%, bringing it to 16.29%. The election produced a hung parliament, so the AKP, CHP, MHP, and HDP engaged in coalition talks. CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu offered Bahçeli the premiership for a CHP-MHP minority government, but he ruled out the offer. He instead called on CHP and AKP to form a grand coalition, and that he should become main opposition leader.{{Cite journal |last=Sayarı |first=Sabri |date=18 April 2016 |title=Back to a Predominant Party System: The November 2015 Snap Election in Turkey |journal=South European Society and Politics |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=263–280 |doi=10.1080/13608746.2016.1170254 |s2cid=156329688 |doi-access=free }} When CHP negotiations failed with the AKP, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called another election. When campaigning for the election held on 1 November 2015, MHP's position faltered and it received less than 12% of the votes.

= MHP congress controversy (2015–2017) =

{{Main|2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress|2017 İyi Party founding convention}}File:MHP 2018 manifesto launch.jpg]]

Following MHP's defeat in the 2015 election, high ranking party members demanded Bahçeli's resignation as chairman. When he refused, 547 delegates put forward their demands to convene an extraordinary congress.{{Cite web|last=Çelenk|first=Hakan|title=Sekiz soruda MHP krizi|url=https://www.posta.com.tr/gundem/siyaset|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806175948/http://www.posta.com.tr/siyaset/YazarHaberDetay/Sekiz-soruda-MHP-krizi.htm?ArticleID=329044|archive-date=6 August 2016|website=Posta}} Important names such as Meral Akşener, Sinan Oğan, and Koray Aydın called for a congress and announced that they were candidates for the chairmanship, however Bahçeli rejected the calls for an extraordinary congress and announced 18 March 2018 as the date of a regular congress.{{Cite web|last=Rengin|first=Arslan|date=1 March 2016|title=MHP'de kurultay tartışmaları: Ne oluyor?|url=https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler/2016/03/160229_mhp_ne_oluyor|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828160647/http://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler/2016/03/160229_mhp_ne_oluyor|archive-date=28 August 2016|website=BBC Türkçe}} A lawsuit was filed by Bahçeli's opposition on the grounds that their demands were not met and that the party be taken to an extraordinary congress.{{Cite web|last=Yılmaz|first=Önder|date=2 February 2016|title=Muhalifler bu cuma davayı açıyor|url=https://www.milliyet.com.tr/siyaset/muhalifler-bu-cuma-davayi-aciyor-2187885|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011185919/http://www.milliyet.com.tr/muhalifler-bu-cuma-davayi-aciyor/siyaset/detay/2187885/default.htm|archive-date=11 October 2016|website=Milliyet}} The party leadership requested the Constitutional Court to make a decision. The court ruled in favor of Bahçeli's opponents, mandating the MHP to convene an extraordinary congress with the Supreme Court unanimously approving the decision.{{Cite web|date=24 May 2016|title=Yargıtay kararı verdi: MHP kongreye gidiyor|url=https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/yargitay-karari-verdi-mhp-kongreye-gidiyor-539261|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704140859/http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/siyaset/539261/Yargitay_karari_verdi__MHP_kongreye_gidiyor.html|archive-date=4 July 2016|website=Cumhuriyet}} The 6th Extraordinary Grand Congress of the MHP convened on 19 June 2016 with the participation of six candidates who declared their candidacy against Bahçeli. In the congress, which was officially a bylaws convention, it was confirmed that a number of amendments to the party's charter had been decided on, even though the headquarters claimed otherwise. With the amendment proposals accepted in the congress, 13 articles in the party bylaws were renewed. Among the amendments, an article in the MHP's charter which prevented the election of chairmen in extraordinary congresses was changed to allow so.{{Cite web|last=Köylü|first=Hilal|date=20 July 2016|title=MHP'de neler oluyor?|url=https://www.dw.com/tr/mhpde-neler-oluyor/a-19341948|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623111518/http://www.dw.com/tr/mhpde-neler-oluyor/a-19341948|archive-date=23 June 2016|website=DW}} However the execution of the decisions reached in the convention was stopped with the decision of the Court of Cassation.{{Cite web|date=24 June 2016|title=MHP kongresine durdurma kararı!|url=https://www.yenicaggazetesi.com.tr/mhp-kongresine-durdurma-karari-140308h.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627065049/http://www.yenicaggazetesi.com.tr/mhp-kongresine-durdurma-karari-140308h.htm|archive-date=27 June 2016|website=Yeniçağ}} Following this decision of the Supreme Court of Appeals, Akşener filed a complaint with the Supreme Election Council (YSK) for 'complete unlawfulness' regarding the rejection of the request for an extraordinary congress with elections.{{Cite web|date=28 June 2016|title=Meral Akşener YSK'ya başvurdu|url=https://www.ensonhaber.com/gundem/meral-aksener-yskya-basvurdu-2016-06-28|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629154133/http://www.ensonhaber.com/meral-aksener-yskya-basvurdu-2016-06-28.html|archive-date=29 June 2016|website=En Son Haber}}

Names such as Meral Akşener, Yusuf Halaçoğlu and Ümit Özdağ were soon expelled from the MHP with the decision of the MHP Disciplinary Committee.{{Cite web|date=8 September 2016|title=Meral Akşener MHP'den ihraç edildi|url=https://www.ntv.com.tr/turkiye/meral-aksener-mhpden-ihrac-edildi,A5eUrgGT7EC-A7iMWL-sGQ|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909074145/https://www.ntv.com.tr/turkiye/meral-aksener-mhpden-ihrac-edildi,A5eUrgGT7EC-A7iMWL-sGQ|archive-date=9 September 2016|website=NTV}}{{Cite web|date=4 July 2017|title=MHP'den ihraç edilen Yusuf Halaçoğlu'ndan yeni parti açıklaması|url=https://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/mhpden-ihrac-edilen-yusuf-halacoglundan-yeni-parti-aciklamasi|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704145738/https://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/mhpden-ihrac-edilen-yusuf-halacoglundan-yeni-parti-aciklamasi|archive-date=4 July 2017|website=CNN Turk}}{{Cite web|date=15 November 2016|title=Ümit Özdağ MHP'den ihraç edildi|url=https://www.dw.com/tr/%C3%BCmit-%C3%B6zda%C4%9F-mhpden-ihra%C3%A7-edildi/a-36404058|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116153228/https://www.dw.com/tr/%C3%BCmit-%C3%B6zda%C4%9F-mhpden-ihra%C3%A7-edildi/a-36404058|archive-date=16 November 2016|website=DW}} On 25 October 2017 Good Party was founded by the MHP expellees under the leadership of Akşener.{{Cite web|date=25 October 2017|title=İYİ Parti kuruldu! Meral Akşener'in İYİ Parti'nin açılımı ne? İYİ ne demek işte Kayı Boyu bağlantısı detayı…|url=https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2017/gundem/meral-aksener-kimdir-aksenerin-partisinin-adi-ne-oldu-iyi-partinin-acilimi-ne-olacak-2062395/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025094041/https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2017/gundem/meral-aksener-kimdir-aksenerin-partisinin-adi-ne-oldu-iyi-partinin-acilimi-ne-olacak-2062395/|archive-date=25 October 2017|website=Sözcü}}

= People's Alliance =

Bahçeli supported President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the 2017 constitutional amendment referendum.

File:Devlet Bahçeli, Hamit Tuna.jpg campaigning in support of MHP mayoral candidate Hamit Tuna]]

In 2018, an electoral alliance between the AKP and MHP called the People's Alliance was established in preparation for that years general election. A law was then passed enabling political parties to form alliances in elections. Bahçeli stated that he was not running for president and that the MHP would support Erdoğan's candidacy.{{Cite web|date=8 February 2018|title=Bahçeli açıkladı: MHP aday çıkarmayacak, Erdoğan'ı destekleyecek|url=https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2018/gundem/bahceli-ankarada-basin-toplantisi-duzenliyor-2164498/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112024259/https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2018/gundem/bahceli-ankarada-basin-toplantisi-duzenliyor-2164498/|archive-date=12 January 2018|website=Sözcü}} Erdoğan was reelected president, and the MHP received 11% of the votes and 49 deputies entered the parliament.{{Cite web|title=24 Haziran 2018 Genel Seçim Sonuçları|url=https://www.haberturk.com/secim/secim2018/genel-secim|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624181938/https://www.haberturk.com/secim/secim2018/genel-secim|archive-date=24 June 2018|website=Haber Turk}} Bahçeli congratulated Erdoğan for the victory and declared that his party had achieved a historical success.{{Cite web|date=25 June 2018|title=24 Haziran seçimlerine damga vuran parti: MHP|url=https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-turkiye-44597659|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516185346/https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-turkiye-44597659|archive-date=16 May 2021|website=BBC Türkçe}} MHP has since been giving confidence and supply to an AKP minority government.File:Yıldız Yazıcıoğlu and Devlet Bahçeli.jpg reporter Yıldız Yazıcıoğlu]]In the 2019 local elections, the MHP again entered the elections under the umbrella of the People's Alliance. The party did not nominate candidates for the İstanbul, Ankara and İzmir mayoralties and supported the candidates nominated by the AKP, while the AKP did not nominate a candidate for mayor in Adana, Mersin, Manisa, Kırklareli and Osmaniye.{{Cite web|date=1 December 2018|title=İşte AKP'nin MHP'ye 'jest' yaptığı iller|url=https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2018/gundem/iste-akpnin-mhpye-jest-yaptigi-iller-2770831/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202170314/https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2018/gundem/iste-akpnin-mhpye-jest-yaptigi-iller-2770831/|archive-date=2 December 2018|website=Sözcü}} The MHP won the mayorships of Amasya, Kastamonu, Kütahya, Çankırı, Erzincan, Bayburt, Bartın and Karabük provinces. Bahçeli has been re-elected as MHP chairman in the congresses held in 2018 and 2021.{{Cite web |date=18 March 2018 |title=MHP lideri Bahçeli yeniden genel başkan seçildi |url=https://www.trthaber.com/haber/gundem/mhp-lideri-bahceli-yeniden-genel-baskan-secildi-565589.html |website=TRT Haber |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318103209/https://www.trthaber.com/haber/gundem/mhp-lideri-bahceli-yeniden-genel-baskan-secildi-565589.html |archive-date=18 March 2021 }}

From 2–7 June 2023, due to being the oldest member, Bahçeli became the temporary speaker of the 28th Grand National Assembly.{{Cite web |date=2 June 2023 |title=Devlet Bahçeli geçici Meclis Başkanı |url=https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/devlet-bahceli-gecici-meclis-baskani-haber-1621822 |access-date=2 June 2023 |website=Duvar |language=tr-TR}}

= Speeches =

Bahçeli's certain speeches and certain gaffes are close to Bushisms and Chernomyrdinka. On one occasion, a speech he made during the 2009 local elections campaign, which coincided with the 40th anniversary of the MHP, became a meme:

{{Cquote|When writing 2009, there are two zeros. The zero next to 9 is on the left, you erase it. Is there a 9 left? There is a zero next to 2. You erase it, too. Is there a 2 left? Add them together. What will it make? It makes 11. You erase both of two zeroes in 2009, what is there left? 29 is left. Add 11 and 29! It makes 40, and the 40th anniversary of the Nationalist Movement Party!Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/p41-yVIxqFc Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140208174850/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p41-yVIxqFc Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p41-yVIxqFc| title = Devlet Bahçeli 40 Yapar! | website=YouTube| date = 25 January 2011 }}{{cbignore}}

}}

Political positions

Bahçeli accused Russia of murdering Turkish soldiers, who were shot in an accident by Russian fighter planes in 2017. He said: "Russia shoots our soldiers, then disgusts them. This is a mistaken, shameful, international law said to count".{{cite web|url=http://aa.com.tr/en/politics/mhp-leader-slams-russia-over-bombing-of-turkish-troops/748669|title=MHP leader slams Russia over bombing of Turkish troops|date=2017-02-12|publisher=Anadolu Agency|author=Emin Avundukluoglu |author2=Hatice Kesgin |location=Konya}} In March 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he urged Russia to "stop the invasion immediately", adding that "the attempt to take Donbas away from Ukraine is separatism".{{cite web |date=3 March 2022 |title=Turkey's nationalist party leader urges Russia to 'stop the invasion immediately' |url=https://bianet.org/english/politics/258549-turkey-s-nationalist-party-leader-urges-russia-to-stop-the-invasion-immediately}}

He is critical of the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), which he demands to be banned. When the Constitutional Court turned down an indictment for the banning of the party, he demanded the closure of the court.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-31 |title=Turkish nationalist party leader demands closure of Constitutional Court for returning HDP indictment |url=https://www.duvarenglish.com/mhp-leader-bahceli-demands-closure-of-turkeys-constitutional-court-for-returning-hdp-indictment-to-court-of-cassation-news-56891 |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Gazete Duvar}} In October 2024, Bahçeli suggested offering Kurdistan Workers Party leader Abdullah Öcalan parole if the latter renounced violence and disbanded his group.{{Cite web |date=22 October 2024 |title=A hard-line Turkish politician suggests parole for an imprisoned Kurdish leader |url=https://apnews.com/article/turkey-nationalist-leader-pkk-parole-edc203115d8e1af1b584faae8cb824ff |access-date=22 October 2024 |website=Associated Press}}

Controversies

In 2015 a Uyghur-staffed, Turkish-owned Chinese restaurant was assaulted by Turkish nationalists; they also attacked the Dutch consulate, mistaking it for the Russian consulate,{{cite news |date=November 21, 2015 |title=Demonstrators throw eggs at Dutch consulate in protest against Russia |url=http://www.todayszaman.com/anasayfa_demonstrators-throw-eggs-at-dutch-consulate-in-protest-against-russia_404929.html |newspaper=Today's Zaman |location=Istanbul}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192725/http://www.todayszaman.com/anasayfa_demonstrators-throw-eggs-at-dutch-consulate-in-protest-meant-to-be-against-russia_404929.html]{{cite web |title=Demonstrators throw eggs at Dutch consulate in protest against Russia news |url=http://www.newsunited.com/demonstrators-throw-eggs-at-dutch-news/19852180/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824010903/http://www.newsunited.com/demonstrators-throw-eggs-at-dutch-news/19852180/ |archive-date=24 August 2017 |access-date=22 May 2022 |url-status=usurped |website=www.newsunited.com}} and assaulted several South Korean tourists, believing them to be Chinese. Devlet Bahçeli said that the attacks by MHP affiliated Turkish youth on South Korean tourists was "understandable", telling the Turkish news paper Hürriyet that: "What is the difference between a Korean and a Chinese anyway? They both have slitty eyes. Does it make any difference?"{{cite news |author=AFP/ec |date=9 Jul 2015 |title=Outrage after Turkish politician excuses attack on 'slitty-eyed' tourists |newspaper=Channel NewsAsia |location=ISTANBUL |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/outrage-after-turkish/1970340.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022162108/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/outrage-after-turkish/1970340.html |archive-date=2015-10-22}}{{cite news |author=Agence France Presse |date=Jul 8, 2015 |title=Outrage after Turkish politician excuses attack on 'slitty-eyed' tourists |newspaper=The Daily Star |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Jul-08/305750-outrage-after-turkish-politician-excuses-attack-on-slitty-eyed-tourists.ashx |access-date=27 September 2015 |archive-date=12 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712230724/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Jul-08/305750-outrage-after-turkish-politician-excuses-attack-on-slitty-eyed-tourists.ashx }}

After an amassing of Greek and Turkish troops at the border amid rising tensions between the two countries, Bahçeli accused Greek defense minister Panos Kammenos of being mentally ill, proclaiming that he should "visit a clinic" among other insults.{{citation |last=Kokkinidis |first=Tasos |title=Erdogan's Far-Right Ally Says Greek Minister Should 'Visit a Clinic' |date=10 April 2018 |url=http://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/04/10/erdogans-far-right-ally-says-greek-minister-should-visit-a-clinic/ |publisher=Greek Reporter |access-date=10 April 2018}}

Following the recognition of the Armenian genocide by the German Parliament, Bahçeli has stated that the deportations of Armenians were "absolutely correct" and should be repeated if a similar event occurs.{{cite news |title=Forcefully deporting Armenians in 1915 was right decision: MHP leader |newspaper=Hurriyet Daily News |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/forcefully-deporting-armenians-in-1915-was-right-decision-mhp-leader.aspx?PageID=238&NID=100248&NewsCatID=338 |access-date=2017-04-11}} He has also glorified the Three Pashas, perpetrators of the Armenian genocide, on numerous occasions. After Joe Biden became the first US President to officially acknowledge the Armenian genocide on 24 April 2021, Bahçeli threatened Armenians living in Turkey, Turkish leftists, and Turkish citizens who recognized the genocide, with death, stating "When you look at us, we will make sure that you will see Talaat, Enver Pasha, and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk."{{Cite web |title='Bahçeli: Biden'ın yazılı açıklaması diyalog köprülerini dinamitlemiştir |url=https://artigercek.com/haberler/bahceli-2026 |access-date=2021-04-27 |website=Arti Gerçek |date=27 April 2021 |language=tr-TR}} He also denied that there were any genocides or massacres in Turkey's history.{{Cite web |title='There are no genocides, massacres in history of Turkish nation' |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/there-are-no-genocides-massacres-in-history-of-turkish-nation/2219593 |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}

He has close ties to mafia boss Alaettin Çakıcı whom he visited in prison,{{Cite web |title=MHP leader defends his visit to notorious mafia leader - Turkey News |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/mhp-leader-defends-his-visit-to-notorious-mafia-leader-132314 |access-date=2019-02-05 |website=Hürriyet Daily News |date=24 May 2018 |language=en}} and for who he demanded a general amnesty. The demand was denied by Erdoğan.{{Cite web |title=Pro far-right MHP mob boss receives right to unlimited visitors in prison |url=https://ahvalnews.com/alaaddin-cakici/pro-far-right-mhp-mob-boss-receives-right-unlimited-visitors-prison |access-date=2019-02-05 |website=Ahval |language=en}}

Personal life

Bahçeli is unmarried.{{Cite web |date=9 February 2015 |title=Devlet Bahçeli neden hiç evlenmedi? |url=https://www.memleket.com.tr/devlet-bahceli-neden-hic-evlenmedi-589761h.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416123843/http://www.memleket.com.tr/devlet-bahceli-neden-hic-evlenmedi-589761h.htm |archive-date=16 April 2016 |website=Memleket}} He supported the football team Beşiktaş{{Cite web |date=17 April 2018 |title=Ünlü siyasetçiler hangi takımları tutuyor |url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/sporarena/galeri-unlu-siyasetciler-hangi-takimlari-tutuyor-40581196/1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516151651/https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/sporarena/galeri-unlu-siyasetciler-hangi-takimlari-tutuyor-40581196/17 |archive-date=16 May 2021 |website=Hürriyet}} until 2023, but canceled his membership in the club after fans demanded the government to resign over its deficient response to the earthquake in February 2023 during its match against Konyaspor.{{Cite web |date=27 February 2023 |title=Football clubs, MPs announce support for government after fans' earthquake protests |url=https://bianet.org/english/sports/274891-football-clubs-mps-announce-support-for-government-after-fans-earthquake-protests |website=Bianet}}

On February 6, 2025, Devlet Bahçeli was hospitalized for a planned heart valve replacement surgery due to a degeneration in the valve he had replaced a decade prior.{{Cite news |date=6 February 2025 |title=İki gün önce hastaneye yatırılan MHP Genel Başkanı Devlet Bahçeli kalp ameliyatı oldu |trans-title=MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, who was hospitalized two days ago, had heart surgery. |url=https://tr.euronews.com/2025/02/06/iki-gun-once-hastaneye-yatirilan-mhp-genel-baskani-bahceli-kalp-ameliyati-oldu |access-date=23 February 2025 |work=Euronews |language=tr}}{{Cite news |date=7 February 2025 |title=MHP leader Devlet Bahceli undergoes successful heart valve replacement surgery |url=https://www.turkiyetoday.com/turkiye/mhp-leader-devlet-bahceli-undergoes-successful-heart-valve-replacement-surgery-116435/ |access-date=23 February 2025 |work=Türkiye Today}}