(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Turkey's parliament convened for the first time since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party lost overall majority in June 7 elections, forcing him to resort to chalk out a deal to form the first coalition government in over a decade.
According to Anadolu news agency, both Erdogan, and Prime Minister and Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Ahmet Davutoglu attended the ceremonial swaring in on Tuesday.
Turkey has not seen a coalition since the ruling Islamic-rooted AKP came to power in 2002 and so far there has been no breakthrough in efforts to agree a deal.
Main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) Deniz Baykal, who as parliament's oldest member at 76 is acting speaker, declared the session open.
The opening of the single-chamber parliament, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, would witness the 550 MPs individually swearing oath in a marathon event.
It also kicked off the process to elect the speaker, with parliament due to make the choice on June 30 and final rounds to take place on July 1, if required.
The AKP have 258 seats in the 550-seat parliament, the Republican People's Party (CHP) 132, and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) 80 apiece.
The parliament is more diverse than any other in Turkey's history with 96 women MPs and three lawmakers from Turkey's Armenian community, as well as from other minorities.
Should the parties fail to form a coalition within 45 days, Erdogan can then call early elections; an option he has warned he will use should the talks fail. (end)
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