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Turkey’s Prime Minister Expects to Begin Coalition Formation Soon Turkey’s President Issues Mandate to Form a New Government
(about 1 hour later)
ISTANBUL — Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey said he expected to receive a formal mandate from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday to form a new coalition government, after days of criticism that the president had been dragging his feet. ISTANBUL — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey gave the country’s prime minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, a formal mandate on Thursday to form a new government, after days of criticism that the president had been dragging his feet.
The general elections on June 7 left the ruling Justice and Development Party 18 seats short of a majority in Parliament, necessitating a coalition government for the first time in a decade. But the formal process of creating one does not begin until the president issues the mandate.The general elections on June 7 left the ruling Justice and Development Party 18 seats short of a majority in Parliament, necessitating a coalition government for the first time in a decade. But the formal process of creating one does not begin until the president issues the mandate.
Opponents accuse Mr. Erdogan of deliberately stalling in order to maintain his grip on power, undermine his opponents and push the country into snap elections that might restore a majority for the party, known by its Turkish initials, A.K.P. Mr. Davutoglu and the previous A.K.P. administration have continued to govern the country as caretakers in the meantime. Opponents accused Mr. Erdogan of deliberately stalling in order to maintain his grip on power, undermine his opponents and push the country into snap elections that might restore a majority for the party, known by its Turkish initials, A.K.P.
“Today, the president will probably give the mandate to me to form a government,” Mr. Davutoglu told his party’s lawmakers on Thursday. “After receiving the mandate, I will ask for meetings with all political parties and plan to have the first round of talks next week.” Mr. Davutoglu and the previous A.K.P. administration have continued to govern the country as caretakers in the meantime.
The four parties that won seats in Parliament on June 7 have been talking informally for weeks behind closed doors. It is not clear which of its rivals the A.K.P. will partner with, but analysts say the far-right Nationalist Movement Party, known as the M.H.P., is the most likely, because it has the most in common with the A.K.P. ideologically and because the two have cooperated in the past. “I will ask for meetings with all political parties and plan to have the first round of talks next week,” Mr. Davutoglu told his party’s lawmakers on Thursday. “If we approach this in an openhearted and transparent way, showing empathy toward each other, in the end, we can agree on a formula which will not leave Turkey without a government.”
The four parties that won seats in Parliament last month have been talking informally for weeks behind closed doors. It is not clear which of its rivals the A.K.P. will partner with, but analysts say the far-right Nationalist Movement Party is the most likely, because it has the most in common with the A.K.P. ideologically and because the two have cooperated in the past.
Mr. Erdogan’s ambitions to revise the Constitution and consolidate power in an executive presidency were set back by the elections, in which support for his party slumped to 41 percent from 49 percent in 2011. A Kurdish party also won representation for the first time.Mr. Erdogan’s ambitions to revise the Constitution and consolidate power in an executive presidency were set back by the elections, in which support for his party slumped to 41 percent from 49 percent in 2011. A Kurdish party also won representation for the first time.
Once he receives the mandate, Mr. Davutoglu will have 45 days to assemble a coalition government. If he fails, Mr. Erdogan will probably call new elections, which could be held as soon as November. Under the mandate, Mr. Davutoglu now has 45 days to assemble a coalition government. If he fails, Mr. Erdogan will probably call new elections, which could be held as soon as November.