Demirtas says AK Party, CHP must discuss coalition


(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) The co-leader of Turkey's pro-Kurdish party has suggested a coalition between the ruling AK Party and the main opposition Republican People's Party should be discussed.

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) chief Selahattin Demirtas was speaking to reporters Monday in Istanbul's Ataturk Airport before leaving for Ankara.

Demirtas said his party - which passed the 10 percent electoral threshold in Sunday's general election - knows its responsibilities and "would not permit a chaotic and tense environment in Turkey".

Demirtas once again ruled out a HDP-AK Party coalition, saying: "We are not going to be a part of a HDP-AK Party option."

"We will discuss other choices. But the people gave responsibility to the parties that came first and second."

The Justice and Development (AK) Party led by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu came first in Sunday's general election, securing the largest number of votes - 41 percent - to claim 258 seats in the Grand National Assembly, 18 short of a simple majority.

Turkey's Supreme Election Council will announce the official results of the election on June 20. Deputies of the 25th Grand National Assembly are to be sworn in on June 25.

The HDP co-leader commented on National Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli's post-election speech about "not being a part solution process".

"The solution process does not end," Demirtas said.

The "solution process" refers to the 2013 initiative by the AK Party government that aims to end the decades-old conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people.

PKK is listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.


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