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Turkish Coalition Talks End Fruitlessly, Making New Elections Likely Turkish Coalition Talks End Fruitlessly, Making New Elections Likely
(about 4 hours later)
ISTANBUL — Turkey’s two largest political parties ended talks on Thursday without agreeing to form a coalition government, setting the stage for likely new elections and threatening further political instability. ISTANBUL — Turkey’s two largest political parties ended talks on Thursday without agreeing to form a coalition government, setting the stage for likely new elections and threatening further political instability.
In the months since the ruling party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lost its absolute majority in the June 7 elections, Turkey has renewed its armed struggle with Kurdish separatists and has more fully embraced war with the militants of the Islamic State in neighboring Syria and Iraq. But talks to assemble a new coalition government have gone nowhere. Critics have accused Mr. Erdogan, the country’s pre-eminent decision maker, of maneuvering to force new elections and of using the fighting with the Kurds as a political strategy to reverse his party’s defeat.In the months since the ruling party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lost its absolute majority in the June 7 elections, Turkey has renewed its armed struggle with Kurdish separatists and has more fully embraced war with the militants of the Islamic State in neighboring Syria and Iraq. But talks to assemble a new coalition government have gone nowhere. Critics have accused Mr. Erdogan, the country’s pre-eminent decision maker, of maneuvering to force new elections and of using the fighting with the Kurds as a political strategy to reverse his party’s defeat.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said after the talks ended on Thursday that, while all chances for a coalition agreement had not been exhausted, “early elections are a strong possibility; the only possibility, even.”Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said after the talks ended on Thursday that, while all chances for a coalition agreement had not been exhausted, “early elections are a strong possibility; the only possibility, even.”
The deadline for coalition talks is Aug. 23, so theoretically, there is still time for a coalition to emerge, possibly matching Mr. Erdogan’s Islamist ruling party — the Justice and Development Party, or A.K.P. — with a small, far-right nationalist bloc. But Mr. Davutoglu’s remarks on Thursday indicated that that was unlikely.The deadline for coalition talks is Aug. 23, so theoretically, there is still time for a coalition to emerge, possibly matching Mr. Erdogan’s Islamist ruling party — the Justice and Development Party, or A.K.P. — with a small, far-right nationalist bloc. But Mr. Davutoglu’s remarks on Thursday indicated that that was unlikely.
It is not clear whether new elections, probably in November, would produce a result any different from those in June, in which the A.K.P. lost its parliamentar majority, dealing a blow to Mr. Erdogan’s desire to rewrite the Constitution and gain more executive powers. It is not clear whether new elections, probably in November, would produce a result any different from those in June, in which the A.K.P. lost its parliamentary majority, dealing a blow to Mr. Erdogan’s desire to rewrite the constitution and gain more executive powers.
But some analysts say that the A.K.P. could regain its majority by appealing to nationalist voters as violence rises and a fight intensifies against the insurgents of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or P.K.K., which fought the Turkish state for more than three decades.But some analysts say that the A.K.P. could regain its majority by appealing to nationalist voters as violence rises and a fight intensifies against the insurgents of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or P.K.K., which fought the Turkish state for more than three decades.
Mr. Davutoglu began his remarks Thursday by thanking the Turkish soldiers who are fighting the P.K.K., and by reminding those watching of the terrorist threat Turkey faces.Mr. Davutoglu began his remarks Thursday by thanking the Turkish soldiers who are fighting the P.K.K., and by reminding those watching of the terrorist threat Turkey faces.
The talks that ended fruitlessly on Thursday were between the ruling party and the main opposition bloc, the Republican People’s Party, or C.H.P. Analysts said a grand coalition between those two parties was the best option for stability in the financial markets. Reflecting investors’ concerns, the Turkish lira fell to a record low of 2.82 to the dollar on Thursday, and the country’s stock market faltered. The talks that ended fruitlessly on Thursday were between the governing party and the main opposition bloc, the Republican People’s Party, or C.H.P. Analysts said a grand coalition between those two parties was the best option for stability in the financial markets. Reflecting investors’ concerns, the Turkish lira fell to a record low of 2.82 to the dollar on Thursday, and the country’s stock market faltered.
A deal between the two largest parties was always a long shot, given the stark ideological divide between them. The C.H.P. is the party of the secular founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and it has long differed sharply with the Islamist A.K.P. on issues like the role of religion in society.A deal between the two largest parties was always a long shot, given the stark ideological divide between them. The C.H.P. is the party of the secular founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and it has long differed sharply with the Islamist A.K.P. on issues like the role of religion in society.
Mr. Davutoglu said the main obstacles in the failed coalition talks were education — in its 10 years in power, the A.K.P. has vastly expanded the number of Islamic schools in the country — and foreign policy, especially regarding the Middle East. Mr. Erdogan and his party have tried to take a more active role in the region and shape the outcomes of its struggles, most prominently in Syria. Mr. Davutoglu said the main obstacles in the coalition talks were education — in its 10 years in power, the A.K.P. has vastly expanded the number of Islamic schools in the country — and foreign policy, especially regarding the Middle East. Mr. Erdogan and his party have tried to take a more active role in the region and shape the outcomes of its struggles, most prominently in Syria.
The Turkish government wants President Bashar al-Assad driven from power in Syria, and it has supported rebel groups fighting his government. Critics — including many in the C.H.P., which says Turkey should not meddle in the Middle East — say the country’s Syria policy has led to chaos in Turkey, where nearly two million Syrians have taken refuge from the conflict.The Turkish government wants President Bashar al-Assad driven from power in Syria, and it has supported rebel groups fighting his government. Critics — including many in the C.H.P., which says Turkey should not meddle in the Middle East — say the country’s Syria policy has led to chaos in Turkey, where nearly two million Syrians have taken refuge from the conflict.
Reflecting the deep disagreements, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the C.H.P., said Thursday that the two sides had never had meaningful discussions about a partnership, despite long hours together in a meeting room. He said all Mr. Davutoglu had offered was a short-term arrangement that would lead to early elections. Reflecting the deep disagreements, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the C.H.P., said Thursday that the two sides had never had meaningful discussions about a partnership, despite long hours in meetings. He said all Mr. Davutoglu had offered was a short-term arrangement that would lead to early elections.
“We just sat and talked to each other,” Mr. Kilicdaroglu said.“We just sat and talked to each other,” Mr. Kilicdaroglu said.
As the leader of the party with the most seats, Mr. Davutoglu got the mandate to try to assemble a governing coalition after the elections. But now that Mr. Davutoglu has failed, Mr. Kilicdaroglu said he and the C.H.P. should get a chance to try before a new election is called.As the leader of the party with the most seats, Mr. Davutoglu got the mandate to try to assemble a governing coalition after the elections. But now that Mr. Davutoglu has failed, Mr. Kilicdaroglu said he and the C.H.P. should get a chance to try before a new election is called.
“I do not think it is right to signal that early elections are the only possibility today,” he said.“I do not think it is right to signal that early elections are the only possibility today,” he said.
In all, four parties won seats in Parliament. To form a majority without the A.K.P., all three of the opposition blocs — the C.H.P., the right-wing nationalists and a Kurdish-oriented party — would have to band together.In all, four parties won seats in Parliament. To form a majority without the A.K.P., all three of the opposition blocs — the C.H.P., the right-wing nationalists and a Kurdish-oriented party — would have to band together.
Though Turkey has technically had only a caretaker A.K.P. government since the June elections, that government has made some major national security decisions. In a major shift, it agreed to open Turkish air bases to manned aircraft of the American-led coalition fighting the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, ISIL or Daesh. At the same time, Turkey began bombing Kurdish militant positions in northern Iraq, where the P.K.K. is based, as well as targets inside Turkey, effectively ending a two-year peace process with the Kurdish separatists.Though Turkey has technically had only a caretaker A.K.P. government since the June elections, that government has made some major national security decisions. In a major shift, it agreed to open Turkish air bases to manned aircraft of the American-led coalition fighting the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, ISIL or Daesh. At the same time, Turkey began bombing Kurdish militant positions in northern Iraq, where the P.K.K. is based, as well as targets inside Turkey, effectively ending a two-year peace process with the Kurdish separatists.