Alfredo Zayas vs Devlet Bahceli

Alfredo Zayas was elected president of Cuba as the Liberal Party candidate. His election followed a period of political turmoil and US intervention, and he promised to restore honest government.

Zayas launched an anti-corruption campaign, prosecuting officials from the previous Menocal administration. The campaign was popular but limited in scope, as Zayas himself faced accusations of corruption later in his term.

Zayas faced a severe financial crisis caused by falling sugar prices and government debt. He implemented austerity measures, including salary cuts for public employees, which were unpopular but stabilized the economy.

Zayas negotiated with the US to revise the Platt Amendment, which limited Cuban sovereignty. While the revision was minor, it was a step toward greater Cuban autonomy and reduced direct US intervention.

Devlet Bahceli was elected as the chairman of the MHP on July 6, 1997, following the death of Alparslan Turkes. He transformed the party from a radical nationalist group into a mainstream political force, focusing on Turkish nationalism and secularism.

Bahceli led the MHP into a coalition government with the Democratic Left Party and the Motherland Party in 1999. He served as Deputy Prime Minister until 2002. The coalition was marked by economic reforms and the capture of Abdullah Ocalan.

Bahceli's MHP supported the AKP's constitutional referendum in 2017, which transformed Turkey from a parliamentary to a presidential system. This alliance was controversial within the MHP and led to internal splits, but it solidified Bahceli's role as a kingmaker.

In 2018, Bahceli formed the People's Alliance with President Erdogan's AKP for the general elections. This alliance has dominated Turkish politics, giving Bahceli significant influence despite the MHP's smaller size.