Bahceli urges big turnout in local elections

Addressing a crowd of thousands in an election rally in the central Anatolian province of Corum yesterday, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli called on the people to vote in the local elections scheduled for late this month, saying, "The source of our legitimacy is the nation's will." Stressing that the elections carry great importance for Turkey in light of its current political atmosphere, Bahceli said, "A larger voter turnout will make the coming elections more meaningful and accurately reflect the nation's political will." He added, "This country belongs to the people, and the people have the right to decide." In related news, opposition Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer said yesterday that religious beliefs should not be exploited for political gain. Campaigning in the Black Sea province of Samsun, Sezer said, "Doing politics through religious beliefs or people's dress style solves nothing, but in fact produces new problems," apparently referring to a recent main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) wooing of religious voters.