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Turkey’s Erdogan doesn’t rule out coalition if no majority
ANKARA, June 21, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
has said he does not rule out forming a coalition in parliament if his
ruling-party led alliance does not win an overall majority in tight polls
this weekend.
Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) — running together with its
junior partner the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) in the so-called People’s
Alliance — is expected to win the most seats in Sunday’s dual parliamentary
and presidential polls.
But some analysts believe the AKP-led alliance will fail to win a majority
in the 600-seat parliament in the face of a strong challenge by the
opposition, which has formed its own election pact.
“If the People’s Alliance gets over 300 seats, the issue of (coalitions) is
finished,” Erdogan said in an interview with Kral FM and Kral Pop Radio late
Wednesday.
“If it is under 300, then we could seek a coalition. That’s a separate
matter,” Erdogan said.
The comments were the first clear acknowledgement in the campaign by
Erdogan that his election alliance may not be able to win an overall majority
in parliament.
However, Erdogan did not indicate with which party he could form a
coalition or how difficult the task could be.
“(Coalitions) can be formed. But the possibility of one coming into
existence is very, very small,” he added.
The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has allied with the
Islamic Saadet (Felicity) Party and the new Iyi (Good) Party for the
elections. All these parties are currently staunchly anti-Erdogan.
The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) is not part of any alliance
but despises Erdogan who it accuses of launching a crackdown on its leaders
and members.
After the polls, Turkey’s parliamentary system will transform into an
executive presidency following constitutional changes approved by a
referendum in April 2017.
These changes will expand the powers of the president but also increase the
size of Turkey’s parliament from the current 550 MPs to 600.
Losing the parliamentary majority would be seen as a blow to Erdogan, who
also faces presidential elections on the same day.
The AKP lost its overall majority once before, in June 2015 legislative
elections, and Erdogan then made clear he had no patience for coalitions. He
called new elections for November that year where the majority was duly
regained.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1555 hrs