The worst-case scenario for Erdo?an

Turkish President Tayyip Erdo?an could not separate himself from domestic politics even during his China-Indonesia trip, rocking coalition talks between the delegations of Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu?s Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) and Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu?s Republican People?s Party (CHP) with his words.

Thanks to the time difference between the East and West ends of the Asian continent, hours after CHP spokesman Haluk Koç?s remarks about the improvements in the talks on July 30 evening, Turkey woke up with Erdo?an?s words on July 31 highlighting his distrust in coalition governments and telling Davuto?lu - without giving his name - the best way was to set up a minority government if possible and go to another election as soon as possible.

He never did hide his disappointment with the results of the June 7 election, which did not bring the system shift he desired from a parliamentary one to a strong presidential one. Moreover, the AK Parti lost the parliamentary majority to establish a single-party government. Erdo?an partly puts the blame on the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples? Democratic Party?s (HDP) performance in the election and particularly the slogan of its co-chairman, Selahattin Demirta?, who launched his campaign by challenging Erdo?an, saying, ?We will not let you be that president,? referring to the strong presidential system Erdo?an wanted so much.

The HDP had been in a diplomacy shuttle between the government and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK) for three years in pursuit of a political solution for Turkey?s chronic Kurdish problem. But after the election, the talks which had been put on hold during the election campaign and especially after Demirta??s remarks did not resume. Instead, a war of words...