The delicate balance of Turkey's ruling People's Alliance (Cumhur İttifakı) has been visibly shaken by a sharp divergence in views over the recent political developments in Northern Cyprus. The friction, centered on the outcome of the latest elections in the internationally unrecognized entity, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), has exposed a rare and public rift between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its key nationalist ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), led by Devlet Bahçeli.
The controversy began when MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli publicly called for the annulment of the TRNC election results, which saw Tufan Erhürman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) emerge victorious. Bahçeli's reasoning was based on the low voter turnout, a stance that directly contradicted the official position of the Turkish government. As reported by the T24 news outlet, while the ruling AKP and President Erdoğan extended congratulations to the newly elected leader, Bahçeli went further, suggesting that the TRNC Parliament should convene immediately to declare the election results invalid, reject any return to a federal solution, and ultimately decide to join the Republic of Turkey. He dramatically stated that "after 81 Düzce, 82 being the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has become inevitable."
This fundamental disagreement over the future of Cyprus—a cornerstone of Turkish foreign policy—escalated into a visible political protest. The tension was palpable when the MHP leader conspicuously failed to attend the official 29 October Republic Day celebrations at Anıtkabir and the subsequent evening reception hosted by the Presidency. This absence, where Bahçeli was represented by MHP Deputy Chairmen Celal Adan and Erkan Akçay at the daytime ceremony, was widely interpreted in political circles as a "silent protest" against the government's policy on Cyprus.
The ensuing speculation about a "crack in the People's Alliance" prompted defensive reactions from both sides. MHP Deputy Chairman Feti Yıldız issued a statement urging caution, saying, "Let us not fall into the trap of those eager to fuel hostilities." Concurrently, President Erdoğan framed the internal tension as an external plot, specifically a "FETÖ operation." Erdoğan, referencing the process of resolving Turkey's half-century-old issues, stated that "foci that do not want Turkey to solve its problems, especially the vile FETÖ members, have accelerated their operations. Their biggest target is to disrupt the unity and solidarity of the People's Alliance, whose foundation was laid with the blessed blood of our martyrs on the night of July 15."
Despite these attempts to downplay the crisis, the political atmosphere remains charged. The MHP-aligned newspaper Türkgün announced that Bahçeli is scheduled to make "important statements" at his party's weekly parliamentary group meeting tomorrow. This announcement has heightened public anticipation, with observers keen to see if Bahçeli's address will clarify the MHP's position and either ease or further exacerbate the strain on the ruling coalition. The episode underscores the fragility of the alliance, demonstrating that even a long-standing national cause like Cyprus can become a flashpoint capable of generating significant political tremors.