Turkey: Top AK Party officials mull coalition with MHP

Top ranking Justice and Development Party (AK Party) officials reportedly see formation of an AK Party- Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) coalition as more likely while the business world said that it would prefer a broad-based coalition between the AK Party and the Republican People's Party (CHP).

AK Party Chairman and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has been holding counsel with top ranking officials about the possibility of a coalition and with which party the coalition should be formed. According to sources within the AK Party, the possibility of coalitions were discussed during meetings held in the last week, and as the preliminary result of the counsel, party officials have shown an inclination for a coalition with the MHP.

It is expected that the AK Party will first meet with the MHP leadership after the Supreme Electoral Council's (YSK) declaration of the official results. MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli gathered ranking officials of the party to evaluate the results of June 7 elections and possible coalition scenarios at MHP headquarter in Ankara on Monday.

According to MHP sources, in the closed-door meeting Bahçeli said that they do not rule out a coalition with the AK Party, but he underlined that they have unbreakable conditions. The MHP will reportedly ask the AK Party to give up its aspirations for a presidential system, to not offer an amendment on Turkish identity and unitary structure if efforts for a new constitution continue.