Coalition negotiations expected to finalize after exploratory talks
by Merve Aydoğan
ANKARAJul 31, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Merve Aydoğan
Jul 31, 2015 12:00 am
The third round of exploratory talks for forming of a coalition government between the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the Republican People's Party (CHP) was held in the Ankara Palace on Thursday. Prior to the Thursday meeting, CHP Deputy Chairman Haluk Koç said that the topics that Turkey needs to deal with today will be brainstormed and discussed. Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik also said that the meeting will be productive as both delegations aim to hammer out answers.
Following the special session of Parliament on Wednesday, CHP sources said that party members think an AK Party-MHP coalition is becoming more likely due to the two parties jointly rejecting the CHP's proposal, supported by the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), of forming a commission to look into increasing terrorist activities. Also, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, speaking at the AK Party's extended meeting for the party's provincial chairmen on Thursday, said that the party will re-launch coalition negotiations with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). He said that the AK Party is determined to find a solution. Çelik made statements after the last exploratory meeting indicating that the main topic of discussion is forming a new constitution. However, CHP officials are being assertive concerning their 14 conditions as well as their five demands for a coalition government.
CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has reportedly told his party members during a Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting on Wednesday that if the AK Party does not agree to the five items, then they will not join a coalition with the AK Party. According to CHP sources, the five musts that Kılıçdaroğlu has urged include education, foreign policy, the Kurdish issue, the constitution and the economy. Sources have further said that Kılıçdaroğlu will not reach an agreement on forming a coalition government if reforming the current education system, which is currently the 4+4+4 model, to eight continuous years can be agreed. Kılıçdaroğlu has further demanded reforms in the economy and a new foreign policy, especially in the Middle East. It has also been reported that during the CHP's MYK meeting, party members were discouraged by the lack of progress of coalition negotiations.
Development Minister Cevdet Yılmaz recently said that meetings between the delegations are continuing as necessary, and that the reconciliation process was not discussed during the last meeting. He also said that early elections are still a possibility. Following Tuesday's meeting, Çelik announced that there will be three more exploratory talks. In this regard, the AK Party and CHP delegations are expected to meet on Saturday and Monday for the last time. Following the meetings, Davutoğlu and Kılıçdaroğlu are to meet next week in efforts to finalize negotiations to form a coalition government.
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