Turkey's ruling party cuts deal with nationalist MHP on mayoral races

Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party has agreed to coordinate with its nationalist rival in the upcoming municipal elections as a damning survey showed Turkey's best districts are run by the opposition.
Supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan are seen at the Halic Congress Center during a meeting of ruling AK Party to announce candidates for the local elections in March 2019, in Istanbul, Turkey November 24, 2018. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RC1270839FD0
Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are seen at the Halic Congress Center during a meeting of ruling party to announce candidates for the local elections in March 2019, in Istanbul, Turkey Nov. 24, 2018. - REUTERS/Murad Sezer
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Jasper Mortimer

ANKARA, Turkey — President Recip Tayyip Erdogan announced Tuesday his Justice and Development Party (AKP) would cut a deal with its right-wing rival, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), for Turkey’s municipal elections in March.

The move is a bid to consolidate the right-of-center vote ahead of polls in which the AKP could suffer significant losses owing to the failing economy and a falling approval rating for the president.

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