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Political parties

Turkey's Coalition Government Talks Begin Amid Uncertainty

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Turkish politics are on the brink of significant change as Acting Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoilu prepares to meet with party leaders to discuss the formation of a coalition government after the June 7 general election. The election results saw no single party secure enough votes to form a government, leaving the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) to explore potential partnerships with other parties. A coalition between the AK Party and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) or an early election seem to be emerging as the most probable scenarios. The settlement process, aimed at resolving Turkey's Kurdish issue, has become a contentious issue in the coalition talks, with the MHP demanding its suspension as a precondition for joining a government.

Key Takeaways:

  • Acting Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoilu is set to meet with party leaders, including the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Republican People's Party (CHP), to discuss the formation of a coalition government.
  • The MHP is demanding the suspension of the settlement process as a precondition for joining a government, while the CHP has outlined 14 principles, including the re-launch of the corruption investigation, as prerequisites for a coalition.
  • The HDP, which denied accusations of being linked with terrorism, declared its willingness to join a coalition after a statement by a leading figure of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) said it was an irrational attitude to eliminate some parties as possible coalition partners.
  • The MHP has criticized the CHP and the HDP for legitimizing President Erdogan's intervention into politics by having talks with him at the presidential palace.
  • The presidential palace visit by the CHP candidate for speaker and the HDP deputy, Celal Dogan, has raised concerns about the potential influence of the president on coalition talks.
  • The AK Party and the MHP are reportedly close to an agreement on how to share Cabinet ministries in a potential coalition government.

Statistics:

  • 276 seats are required to form a government in the 550-seat Parliament, a threshold that no single party has achieved after the June 7 general election.
  • The AK Party and the CHP have 258 and 132 deputies, respectively, while the MHP and the HDP each have 80 deputies.
  • 48% of MHP voters support the settlement process, according to Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmui.
  • 14 principles are outlined by the CHP as prerequisites for being a coalition partner, including the re-launch of the corruption investigation.

Sources:

  • Milliyet daily
  • Konya's Kon TV
  • Haberturk daily
  • Hurriyet daily

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