CHP ready to take on burden of coalition for Turkey’s interest

Şükrü Küçükşahin / Deniz Zeyrek – ANKARA

HÜRRİYET photo

The Republican People’s Party (CHP) is prepared to assume the responsibility of forming a coalition for the sake of Turkey, despite being well-aware of the consequences, CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has said, just days after “exploratory talks” on a deal between the CHP and the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

“Even though we know the heavy toll of a coalition government, we could assume such a responsibility for the country’s future. We are proceeding forward for Turkey’s interests rather than the party’s benefits. We observe that every delay [in the process of forming a coalition] makes the toll before Turkey heavier,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

Stating that the June 7 parliamentary election results and the current conditions in the country had forced them to shoulder the responsibility for such a burden, Kılıçdaroğlu said being a partner in a possible coalition was in accord with the party’s historic mission.

“We are aware of the weighty responsibility we are taking up, and the heavy price within and outside [the country], economically and socially, that we face,” he said, adding that he hoped the transitional government was also aware of this. 

While the AKP received the highest number of votes in the parliamentary polls, it fell short of a majority for the first time since coming to power in 2002. In the first round of coalition government talks, the CHP, which received the second highest number of votes, was the only party that said it was open to a government with the AKP. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), the other two parties that passed the 10 percent threshold in the elections to enter parliament, said they were not in favor of a coalition with the AKP. 

The CHP’s head said they had put forth their goals clearly about what they aimed for in a coalition partnership, but added that it was now up to the AKP to make a decision.

“Maybe they [AKP] are not ready for a coalition; we would understand that too. I believe that if it was for [Prime Minister] Ahmet Davutoğlu a more decisive and consistent result would be formed,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, hinting that the prime minister was not alone in deciding on a coalition partner. 

Erdoğan ‘gambling with Turkey’s future’

Kılıçdaroğlu accused President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of gambling with the country’s future, while adding that an early election would not change the current political poll results. 

“The person living in the ‘illegal palace’ [in reference to the controversial presidential palace that President Erdoğan insisted be built] is gambling with Turkey’s future. The future of Turkey cannot be locked into the two lips of a person,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, hinting at Erdoğan’s personal expectations being well beyond the country’s expectations. 

Kılıçdaroğlu said there was a scenario currently being discussed in which the HDP falls below the 10 percent threshold due to reaction against attacks by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), coupled with a return of nationalist votes to the AKP, allowing the AKP to win enough votes to form a single-party government once more.

“Nobody should forget that the ones who build their government on such an expectation will not live long,” Kılıçdaroğlu said. 

“Everybody more or less knows that in an early election, there will be no big difference in the current picture. If an election is held and a government is not formed, there will be an even heavier toll,” he added.