MHP accuses Turkey’s government of enjoying own ‘Tulip Era’

ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

The ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, has been enjoying its own “Tulip Era” marked by the distribution of wealth merely to its own supporters, the leader of Turkey’s main nationalist party said Monday.

Referring to the AKP’s slogan of “Let the stability continue,” the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, said there was no stability in Turkey except among the ruling party and its supporters, who are hoping to continue what he called their “Tulip Era.”

The Tulip Era was a period in the Ottoman Empire where the focus shifted toward pleasure and enjoyment.

The AKP “is focused on showing off. They are living a luxurious lifestyle and see everything as a bed of roses,” said the MHP chief.

“They have not ruled the country well,” said Bahçeli, adding that Turkey had serious economic and employment problems that had been hidden by the partisan press that supports the government.

“Society is not happy,” said Bahçeli, pointing to rising poverty and crime rates.

Prme Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s “spiritual state and chemistry will not allow him to serve for a third term. The ruling party needs to change, because there is nothing left they can do,” said Bahçeli.

Speaking in Balıkesir in his second election rally of the day, Bahçeli once again criticized the AKP for behaving in a way similar to the sultanate of the Ottoman Empire, especially during the Tulip Period, adding that this “magnificence” only benefited their supporters and not Turkish citizens as a whole.

via MHP accuses Turkey’s government of enjoying own ‘Tulip Era’ – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review.