Erdogan's AKP may seek coalition if fails to get majority - report

Supporters of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wait for his speech at an election rally in Yalova. Picture: Lefteris Pitarakis/AP

Supporters of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wait for his speech at an election rally in Yalova. Picture: Lefteris Pitarakis/AP

Published Jun 21, 2018

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Istanbul - Turkish President Tayyip

Erdogan said in an interview late on Wednesday that his ruling

AK Party could seek to form a coalition if it fails to secure a

parliamentary majority in Sunday's elections.

Polls indicate the elections may be closer than anticipated

when he called the snap elections in April, suggesting he may be

pushed to a second-round run-off for the presidency, and his AKP

could lose its majority in the 600-seat assembly.

"If it is under 300 (seats), then there could be a search

for a coalition," Erdogan said in an interview with the Kral FM

radio station. He added that the probability of this was "very,

very low".

The AK Party formed an alliance with the nationalist MHP

before the elections, which will herald a switch to a new

powerful executive presidency narrowly approved in a referendum

last year. Opposition parties also formed an alliance.

MHP leader Devlet Bahceli said on Monday another election

could be held if his alliance with the AKP cannot form a

majority in parliament after Sunday's vote. 

Reuters

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