Hotel cuts power to prevent talk by critical politician Akşener

Speaking under the light of mobile phones in Çanakkale after hotel management cut the power, Meral Akşener said her legal meeting was interfered in by the power cut but vowed to continue her “struggle for democracy.”

A former candidate for leadership of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Meral Akşener, was forced to address party members in the dark when a hotel in Çanakkale cut the power in an attempt to prevent the dissident politician from speaking.

Akşener has been waging a campaign against incumbent chairman Devlet Bahçeli, who is a supporter of a switch to an executive presidency in Turkey. Akşener, on the other hand, opposes changes to the constitution that will be voted in a referendum on April 16.

Speaking under the light of mobile phones in Çanakkale after hotel management cut the power, Akşener said her legal meeting was interfered in by the power cut but vowed to continue her “struggle for democracy.”

Akşener had been expelled from the party in September 2016 after she challenged Bahçeli. She claimed opponents to the constitutional amendments would be victorious in the referendum. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on the same day that he says “yes” to the changes due to their democratic nature.

MHP TO PUNISH DEPUTIES WHO SAY ‘NO’

Meanwhile, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) announced it would punish deputies who say “no” to a constitutional amendment package that will be voted in a referendum on April 16, the T24 news website reported on Saturday.

“This is unforgivable. What is needed will be done,” said Mevlüt Karakaya, deputy chairman of the MHP, when speaking about measures to be taken against MHP deputies who publicly oppose the constitutional amendment package.

“Our slogan is decided: ‘We took an oath for this country. Essential.’ ‘Yes’ for the country, the flag and the survival of Turkishness,” said Karakaya, adding that MHP organizations would go out among the people to work for a “yes” vote in the referendum.

Critics fear the changes to the constitution will officially establish one-man rule in Turkey. (turkishminute.com) Feb. 11, 2017

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