Turkey's President Erdo?an: Election may be repeated if talks fail

What Turkish voters asked for in the June 7 parliamentary election is forming of a coalition government; and if both the incumbent ruling and main opposition party fail to form the new government within the constitutional limit, then a snap election is ?inevitable,? President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has maintained.

?As a requirement of my political responsibilities, I would first give the mandate to the leader of the political party that got the highest vote. Then we will all together see the developments. If he cannot form it, then, again as a requirement of my political morale, I would this time give the mandate to the leader of the party that got the second highest number of vote. As you know, there is 45-day process. God willing, it won?t extend beyond this,? Erdo?an told a group of journalists, including Hürriyet daily columnist Vahap Munyar, en route from Baku to Istanbul on June 13, after attending the opening ceremony of the first European Games in the Azerbaijani capital.

Turkey?s 63rd government must be formed within 45 days of the mandate being formally given, which pushes the Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader and incumbent Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu to act as swiftly as possible and to engage in coalition negotiations with other political parties. The president has the right to take the country to early polls if political parties fail to form a government within 45 days.

?If everything takes place in its natural course and a coalition is formed then there would be no problem,? he replied, when asked whether any ?surprise? could be expected throughout these 45 days.

?But if the party that came first in the election cannot achieve [forming a government] and neither can the second one ... then going to the ballot...