Turkey: PM Davutoglu discusses coalition with CHP leader

ANKARA

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has concluded his meeting with Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu as part of efforts to form a new government in the country.  

Addressing a press conference at the Justice and Development (AK) Party headquarters in the capital of Ankara Monday, Davutoglu said: "The meeting was conducted in an extremely sincere and friendly atmosphere".

He added that his first talk with Kilicdaroglu was a "correct understanding building" meeting. He clarified that he did not have a one-on-one meeting with Kilicdaroglu.

He said that the meetings with chairpersons of political parties in the first round of coalition talks would be on the basis of mutual principled stances under an environment of confidence building.

"The main part we should do at a time when very intense developments are happening in our regional and global domain is to reveal a government set up that will open our country's horizon,” he added.

He reiterated that the AK Party's intention and sincerity were open and the coalition talks would continue.

The prime minister also said that Omer Celik, minister of culture and tourism, had been tasked as the party representative for further talks with the CHP.

Also at the press conference, CHP party spokesman and Deputy Chairman Haluk Koc said that both sides in the meeting underlined that Turkey must stand united with a strong government profile.

"It was an initial meeting that saw a declaration of will and intention to work with a strong government profile towards resolution for Turkey's pending domestic and foreign problems," Koc said.

He reiterated that his party would do its best to form a new government and not leave Turkey without a solution. "All along, I have been saying that the CHP will not be the source of deadlock," he added.

"It is obvious that we need a mutual confidence building [measure]. The meeting discussed these issues, and displayed the will on determining the issues to be dealt with through joint efforts," he said.

He further said that the actual coalition negotiations between the two parties and all related contacts would be conducted by himself on behalf of the CHP and Omer Celik from AK Party.

Davutoglu is next scheduled to meet the head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli, on Tuesday, and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) leaders, Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, on Wednesday as part of the first round of negotiations to form a government partnership.

"The second round of meetings will be held in accordance with the atmosphere following Eid al-Fitr," Davutoglu said on July 9, referring to post-Ramadan celebrations.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had asked Davutoglu to form a new government on July 9.

Davutoglu now has 41 days left to form a government around the AK Party, which gained the largest share of parliamentary seats (258) in the June 7 general election.

Although the party came in first, it did not win enough seats (276 seats) to form a majority government, so it must attempt to forge a coalition with one of three other parliamentary parties - the second place CHP (132 seats), the MHP (80 seats) or the pro-Kurdish HDP (80 seats) . Either the left-leaning CHP or the nationalist MHP are likely to be Davutoglu's preferred partners.

If he is unable to form a coalition, tradition dictates the president should offer the second place party the chance to create an administration within another 45-day period. Should this also fail to provide Turkey with a governing coalition, the president must call a fresh election and appoint a prime minister within five days to form an interim government consisting of representatives from all four parties.

The new election would likely be held around the end of November.

The last coalition talks in Turkey were made 16 years ago, when the Democratic Left Party (DSP) of the late premier Bulent Ecevit failed to win the majority at the general election on April 18, 1999.