Turkey's president calls snap election after deadline for new government passe

[Valin]

AP:

Aug. 24, 2015

 

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's president formally called a new election on Monday, a day after a deadline passed for forming a new government following an inconclusive vote in June. A statement released from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office didn't say when the new election would be held, but the president has previously said it was likely to take place on Nov. 1.

 

Erdogan was expected to re-appoint Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to form an interim government during a meeting on Tuesday. The Islamic-rooted ruling party, which Erdogan founded, lost its parliamentary majority in June for the first time since 2002. Davutoglu's efforts to form a coalition alliance failed last week, setting the stage for Erdogan to declare repeat elections he is reported to have favored all along.

 

Erdogan is thought to have pressed for new elections to give the ruling party the chance to win back its majority and rule alone.

 

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Two opposition parties have already declared they won't participate in the interim government, leaving Davutoglu with little choice but to form a government made up of independent figures and politicians from the pro-Kurdish party, who would be taking government posts for the first time in Turkish history.