Coalition talks enter new phase

ISTANBUL / ANKARA

AA photo

Coalition talks in Turkey have entered a new phase, as delegations from the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Republican People’s Party (CHP) held “exploratory talks” on July 24 aimed at forming a coalition government.

(CHP) held “exploratory talks” on July 24 aimed at forming a coalition government.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş, Minister of Culture and Tourism Ömer Çelik, Minister of Development Cevdet Yılmaz and MPs Osman Can and Taha Özhan were part of the AKP’s delegation. 
Haluk Koç, Selin Sayek Böke, Faik Öztrak, Istanbul deputy Akif Hamzaçebi and chairman adviser Rasim Bölücek represented the CHP.

Citing the rule of a coalition government as the healthiest option which would offer a way out of the grave problems Turkey is currently facing, CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu earlier has nonetheless acknowledged an early election is highly likely, despite ongoing efforts to form a coalition government.

“I regard the possibility of an early election higher [than the formation of a coalition government]. There are good-intended steps [which have been] taken for a coalition but, giving a realistic look, this has certain difficulties,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in an interview with daily Yeni Şafak published on July 23.

Erdoğan: Turkey will be governed properly in case of no coalition

Turkey would be governed properly whether in the case of a coalition deal or in a snap election period, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on July 24, when asked if “recent extraordinary developments” would influence the process of forming a government.

“The job will be finished if the coalition government is formed,” Erdoğan said, while speaking to reporters in Istanbul. “But if they can’t form a coalition government, then the ultimate decision-maker will be national will. Then immediately we will go to the [will of the] nation and will take a step in the direction of that will. This will take 90 days, three to four months.” 

In case of a snap election, the country will be governed properly with a temporary government, he added.