RIZE, Turkey
A decision to form a coalition government in Turkey could be taken in the upcoming week, the country’s president has claimed.
Speaking to a crowd on Saturday in his home province of Rize, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "I am under the impression that the coming week will see a decision in this process."
His remarks come after Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said he would enter coalition talks with the Justice and Development (AK) Party on Monday.
Erdogan had asked AK Party Prime Minister Davutoglu to form a new government on July 9, and negotiations between the party and the second-placed Republican People’s Party (CHP) had been going on since July 13. These broke down without agreement earlier this week.
When the deadline to form a government expires on Aug. 23, either Erdogan or the parliament may decide to hold a new election. If the president issues the decision, then polling is supposed to be held the first Sunday following a 90-day period starting from the end of the first deadline.
In the current set of circumstances, this scenario suggests renewed polling in November.
‘I am not a usual president’
Meanwhile, there have been ongoing claims that Erdogan wanted to thwart the formation of a coalition government.
"But, some say, ‘Bestepe’ [the Presidential Palace] must get within the legal boundaries. Am I working illegally?" Erdogan asked the crowd.
Claiming that some opponents were suggesting “'He [Erdogan] must keep quiet, sit down and never speak,’” the Turkish leader countered: “I am not a usual president. That is why I have to do what is necessary. I was elected not to be silent but to work. And we are working, will be working; there are still many things we need to get done."
Erdogan, the first president to be elected by popular vote, had pushed to establish an executive presidential system ahead of the Turkish general election in June.
