TURKISH PM DAVUTOGLU TO FORM INTERIM GOVT

Istanbul, 11 Dzulqa’dah 1436/26 August 2015 (MINA) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday gave Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu a fresh mandate to form a caretaker government ahead of snap polls.

Erdogan on Monday called an early election which the presidency said has become a necessity after efforts to form a coalition government failed following the June 7 legislative vote, World Bulletin quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Davutoglu is now obliged within the next five days to form the short-lived government to take Turkey towards the new elections that are expected on November 1.

Erdogan presented the mandate for Davutoglu to lead the caretaker government as prime minister at a meeting at his presidential palace.

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The situation is unprecedented in modern Turkish history never before have parties failed to form a coalition after elections and new polls been required.

Erdogan wants the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) he co-founded to win back the overall majority it lost in June for the first time since it came to power in 2002.

Davutoglu is expected to give a statement from 1100 GMT, Turkish television reported. The poll date of November 1 is expected to be confirmed by Turkey’s election body later Tuesday.

The opposition Republican People’s Party and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have refused to take part in an election government.

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This forces Davutoglu to form an interim cabinet with the pro-Kurdish People’s Democracy Party (HDP) as well as non-partisan figures outside parliament.

The prospect of forming a government however brief with the HDP is an unsettling prospect for Davutoglu who has accused the party of being a front for outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Erdogan is hoping to emerge stronger from the next elections, with his eyes on a powerful presidency with full executive authority like in France or the United States.

To do this, the AKP needs to win a three-fifths majority with least 330 seats in parliament to change the constitution by calling a referendum.

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A majority of two-thirds 367 seats would allow the changes to be passed without a referendum.

Turkey is being dragged into political uncertainty during one of the most critical periods in its recent history.

The economy is in decline while the country is on a heightened security alert with the government waging a dual offensive against ISIL and Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria. (T/P006/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)