Surprise Erdoğan-Baykal meeting before Turkish coalition talks

Murat YETKIN - ANKARA

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Turkish President Erdoğan held a surprise meeting with Deniz Baykal, the former head of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), on the morning of June 10, before Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu starts talks for a new government following the June 7 general election.

According to official sources speaking to Hürriyet Daily News, Erdoğan sent a message to Baykal, who was in his constituency in Antalya on the evening of June 9, for a possible conversation about “parliamentary works.” After consulting with CHP head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Baykal accepted the invitation to the meeting that took place in the Foreign Ministry residence in the Çankaya district of Ankara.

As the most senior deputy elect, Baykal is expected to open the new parliament as the temporary speaker. The first duty of parliament will be to elect a speaker, and depending on the result of the Erdoğan-Baykal conversation today Baykal may be a candidate for this - a possible sign of a “grand” coalition between the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the CHP.