(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday urged the swift formation of a coalition government, warning he could call early elections should there be no agreement by mid-August.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lost its majority in June 7 elections for the first time since it came to power in 2002, in a major blow to Erdogan.
Newly elected lawmakers will be sworn in tomorrow, after which Erdogan will ask the AKP - still the biggest party in parliament - to form a coalition government within 45 days.
Should talks fail, Erdogan again warned that he would invoke the constitution and call early elections. "It's possible this process may take until the middle of August. I believe Turkey cannot endure such a loss of time, so I encourage the formation of a new government as soon as possible," Erdogan said.
"But if politicians are unable to sort this out, then the people are the only recourse to resolve this," he said, referring to possible early elections.
Erdogan cited the chaos engulfing neighbours Syria and Iraq to encourage the parties to form a government quickly, adding that the economy also seemed ready to accept a coalition government.
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