Early elections not supported by Turkey's top business body

Cansu Çamlıbel - ISTANBUL

CİHAN Photo

One of Turkey’s leading business groups has spoken out against any early elections, while also backing a coalition between the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Republican People’s Party (CHP).

A coalition government between the AKP and the CHP would live longer than other possible coalitions, Independent Industry and Business Association (MÜSİAD) head Nail Olpak said.

 “Holding early elections without changing the current parameters would be wrong. I don’t believe that the election results would be different [than those on June 7] without changing the elections law and showing their efforts and good intentions for a coalition government,” Olpak told daily Hürriyet on June 21.

A MÜSİAD delegation headed by Olpak held meetings recently with political party leaders and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after the country’s June 7 general elections.

“Our branch heads told me that a coalition government between the AKP and the [Nationalist Movement Party] MHP will be easier to form. In my opinion, it is harder for the CHP and the AKP to form a coalition government, but then again it will also be a wider and longer government, too,” said Olpak, adding that a coalition between the AKP and Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) should not be overlooked in discussing possible scenarios. 

“The HDP has the claim of being the party of [a wider segment of society in] Turkey. What is important is that the coalition should be formed rapidly but not without any principle. Several of our members even proposed giving a deadline for a coalition, saying [a coalition should stay in power] for at least two years.

They said they did not want a coalition formed only [to gain time] for an early election,” said Olpak.