AK Party report shows little hope for coalition with CHP

According to sources in Ankara, the report prepared by the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) delegation that held coalition talks with the Republican People's Party (CHP) delegation indicates fewer chances for a possible coalition government. The report, which was submitted to interim prime minister and AK Party chairman, Ahmet Davutoğlu, reportedly contains more disagreements than agreements by the two parties. Davutoğlu will meet with CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on Monday at 6:00 p.m. at the Prime Ministry to discuss whether they will continue coalition negotiations.

AK Party delegation head, Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik, told the media he and his delegations gave a presentation under three frameworks that include topics of disagreement and agreement as well as topics that will have to be discussed by the leaders.

Çelik said: "Prime Minister Davutoğlu will address the topics that concern the government at the Cabinet meeting on Monday." On the other side, the CHP Central Executive Board (MYK) convened on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Kılıçdaroğlu, in which CHP Deputy Chairman Haluk Koç, who led the party's coalition delegation, presented the report prepared from the exploratory meetings.

Çelik said on Thursday that the upcoming meeting on Monday following the Cabinet meeting should not be seen as "do or die." Accompanying Kılıçdaroğlu, Koç will also attend the meeting with Davutoğlu in an effort to form a coalition government. As it has been reported that there are five items that the two parties disagree on, there are indications that CHP members are losing hope of a possible AK Party-CHP coalition due to recent statements by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

The CHP, which is insistent on its 14 conditions, has reportedly demanded to be in charge of two critical ministries as a must in the exploratory talks. The two critical ministries that the CHP reportedly is insisting on are the Foreign Ministry in an effort to completely change Turkey's foreign policy, of which Davutoğlu is the chief architect, and the National Education Ministry. Educational policies are the second biggest area of disagreement between the CHP and AK Party.