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Turkish PM steps down as ruling party mulls possibilities for coalition Turkish PM steps down as ruling party mulls possibilities for coalition
(35 minutes later)
Ahmet Davutoğlu, the Turkish prime minister, resigned on Tuesday in a procedural move following Sunday’s parliamentary election but is to remain in his post until a new government is formed, according to a statement published by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s office.Ahmet Davutoğlu, the Turkish prime minister, resigned on Tuesday in a procedural move following Sunday’s parliamentary election but is to remain in his post until a new government is formed, according to a statement published by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s office.
The ruling Justice and Development, or AK, party (AKP) lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since it swept to power in 2002. Having garnered 40.9% of the vote, it faces the option of forming a coalition government with an opposition party, or trying to rule as a minority government.The ruling Justice and Development, or AK, party (AKP) lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since it swept to power in 2002. Having garnered 40.9% of the vote, it faces the option of forming a coalition government with an opposition party, or trying to rule as a minority government.
Related: Turkey election: what happens next?Related: Turkey election: what happens next?
“Mr President accepted today the resignation of the cabinet that was presented by Mr Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu,” Erdoğan’s office said in a brief statement. “Mr President, who thanked the cabinet for its services so far, asked the cabinet to remain in charge until a new government is formed.”“Mr President accepted today the resignation of the cabinet that was presented by Mr Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu,” Erdoğan’s office said in a brief statement. “Mr President, who thanked the cabinet for its services so far, asked the cabinet to remain in charge until a new government is formed.”
The three opposition parties in parliament have shown little enthusiasm for joining the AKP in a coalition government.The three opposition parties in parliament have shown little enthusiasm for joining the AKP in a coalition government.
The right-wing Nationalist Movement party (MHP), thought to be the AKP’s most likely coalition partner, has rejected the possibility. “Nobody has a right to drag Turkey into [AKP] minority and some circles’ scenarios,” Devlet Bahceli, the MHP party leader, said in a statement after the elections. “A snap election will happen whenever it will happen.” The rightwing Nationalist Movement party (MHP), thought to be the AKP’s most likely coalition partner, has rejected the possibility. “Nobody has a right to drag Turkey into [AKP] minority and some circles’ scenarios,” Devlet Bahceli, the MHP party leader, said in a statement after the elections. “A snap election will happen whenever it will happen.”
He suggested the AK Party and the pro-Kurdish and leftist Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) or, alternatively, the AKP, HDP and second-placed Republican People’s party (CHP) should try to form a coalition. He suggested the AKP and the pro-Kurdish and leftist Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) or, alternatively, the AKP, HDP and second-placed Republican People’s party (CHP) should try to form a coalition.
The CHP has suggested it could lead a coalition government if both of the other opposition parties maintain their strategy not to cooperate with the AKP.The CHP has suggested it could lead a coalition government if both of the other opposition parties maintain their strategy not to cooperate with the AKP.
Related: Election result heralds a new Turkey, but not the one Erdoğan wantedRelated: Election result heralds a new Turkey, but not the one Erdoğan wanted
Selahattin Demirtaş, the HDP co-chair, who was the surprise star of this year’s elections, underlined his party’s rejection of a coalition with the AKP on Tuesday. “What kind of alternatives we will have in that case? We will be discussing all of these alternatives,” he said.Selahattin Demirtaş, the HDP co-chair, who was the surprise star of this year’s elections, underlined his party’s rejection of a coalition with the AKP on Tuesday. “What kind of alternatives we will have in that case? We will be discussing all of these alternatives,” he said.
The HDP’s breakthrough was greeted with jubilation in Turkey’s predominately Kurdish south-east, where it attracted its greatest support. In Batman, a petrol-rich but poor province, the party garnered 72.37% of all votes. The HDP’s breakthrough was greeted with jubilation in Turkey’s predominantly Kurdish south-east, where it attracted its greatest support. In Batman, a petrol-rich but poor province, the party garnered 72.37% of all votes.
Bahar, a 19-year-old student, said the HDP victory would help affirm Kurdish identity in Turkey. “This is an important first step in Turkish politics. For the first time, a party that is not discriminating on the basis of race has met with electoral success. We are happy that the HDP will be able to oppose the ruling party.”Bahar, a 19-year-old student, said the HDP victory would help affirm Kurdish identity in Turkey. “This is an important first step in Turkish politics. For the first time, a party that is not discriminating on the basis of race has met with electoral success. We are happy that the HDP will be able to oppose the ruling party.”
Mahmut Akat, a shop owner, agreed. “The HDP carried off a great victory at the elections,” he said. “The fact that the HDP got so many votes in the west [of Turkey] shows that the existence of the Kurds has been accepted to a degree by Turkish society.”Mahmut Akat, a shop owner, agreed. “The HDP carried off a great victory at the elections,” he said. “The fact that the HDP got so many votes in the west [of Turkey] shows that the existence of the Kurds has been accepted to a degree by Turkish society.”
He added that the election results gave him renewed hope for the ongoing peace process between the Turkish government and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK): “The guerrilla fighters are our people, and the soldiers are our people, too. Why should we kill each other? I have much higher hopes for peace.”He added that the election results gave him renewed hope for the ongoing peace process between the Turkish government and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK): “The guerrilla fighters are our people, and the soldiers are our people, too. Why should we kill each other? I have much higher hopes for peace.”
Four people were killed as clashes between rival Kurdish groups erupted on Tuesday in the main Kurdish city of Diyarbakir. Aytac Baran, the head of the Ihya-Der, an Islamist charity with close links to the political party Hüda-Par, was shot by unknown gunmen, triggering a firefight that killed three more people and injured four, including three journalists, AFP reported.Four people were killed as clashes between rival Kurdish groups erupted on Tuesday in the main Kurdish city of Diyarbakir. Aytac Baran, the head of the Ihya-Der, an Islamist charity with close links to the political party Hüda-Par, was shot by unknown gunmen, triggering a firefight that killed three more people and injured four, including three journalists, AFP reported.
Hüda-Par emerged from the Turkish Hezbollah, an outlawed Islamist militant grouping with no links to its Lebanese namesake. Its supporters clashed last year with PKK followers during violent protests over the Turkish government’s hostile attitude to Kurdish fighters defending the Syrian-Kurdish city of Kobani against Isis militants.Hüda-Par emerged from the Turkish Hezbollah, an outlawed Islamist militant grouping with no links to its Lebanese namesake. Its supporters clashed last year with PKK followers during violent protests over the Turkish government’s hostile attitude to Kurdish fighters defending the Syrian-Kurdish city of Kobani against Isis militants.
The HDP strongly condemned the attack and called for an investigation of the incident. On Tuesday night three people were detained in relation to the killings, according to the state-run Anatolian news agency. The HDP strongly condemned the attack and called for an investigation of the incident. On Tuesday night, three people were detained in relation to the killings, according to the state-run Anatolian news agency.
Turkish media reported that Baran had received threats by the PKK just before his assassination.Turkish media reported that Baran had received threats by the PKK just before his assassination.