The Free Cause Party (HÜDA PAR) announced on Monday that it will support Numan Kurtulmuş, the current Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM), in the upcoming parliamentary speaker elections.

HÜDA PAR leader Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu confirmed the party’s backing following a closed-door meeting with Kurtulmuş at the party’s headquarters in Ankara. “Our candidate is the current Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Kurtulmuş,” Yapıcıoğlu told reporters. “We will support him with our votes from the first round.”

Kurtulmuş is the joint nominee of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and the endorsement from HÜDA PAR further consolidates his position ahead of the vote.

The meeting also addressed national legislative priorities and ongoing efforts to combat terrorism. Yapıcıoğlu described the exchange as constructive, noting discussions centered on Türkiye’s recent political developments and challenges.

Kurtulmuş expressed appreciation for the support and emphasized the importance of unity in the face of national security threats. “We exchanged ideas on Turkey’s general issues, especially the ‘Türkiye without Terror’ process, which is critical for ensuring peace, stability, and social cohesion,” he said. “We also discussed the role of parliament in shaping this vision and the establishment of a commission focused on anti-terror measures.”

The TBMM speaker election is scheduled to take place on Tuesday. If re-elected, Kurtulmuş would continue to lead parliament into the second legislative year of its 28th term. (ILKHA)