Turkey Opposition Says Ready for Coalition with Ruling Party
The head of Turkey's main opposition party on Sunday said it was ready to go into coalition with the Islamic-rooted ruling party and end the political impasse that has persisted since June 7 elections.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan failed to win an overall majority in the elections for the first time since it came to power in 2002, leaving Turkey facing either coalition government or early elections.
"Even if we know the high price of a coalition government, we can take on this responsibility for the good of the country," Kemal Kilicdaroglu, head of the secular Republican People's Party (CHP), told the Hurriyet daily.
"We are acting for the interests of Turkey, more than those of the party," he said. "We note that every delay increases the price that Turkey must pay," he said.
A coalition with the CHP is now looking like the most likely option for the AKP rather than teaming up with the third-placed Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
Further crucial coalition talks are expected in the coming week. Some commentators still refuse to rule out early elections.
Kilicdaroglu's comments come after a wave of violence in the country blamed on Islamic State (IS) jihadists and Kurdish militants, including a suicide bombing that killed 32 that the government blamed on IS.
The Turkish army has since launched air strikes on both IS in Syria and Kurdish militants in northern Iraq.
Source: Agence France Presse
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