Roundup: Turkey sets for snap polls amid highly polarized politics

Turkey is set to hold snap elections on November 1 amid increased tensions and polarization among major political parties who failed to form a coalition government since the June 7 elections.

The Supreme Election Board (YSK) said the tentative date for the elections suggested to political parties last week, November 1, became official Tuesday.

The decision was taken the same day President Recep Tayyip Erdogan charged acting Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu with forming the interim power-sharing agreement until the new elections, as required by the Constitution, following the collapse of coalition talks and the expiration of the allotted 45-days.

However, the two major parties, the center-left Republican Peoples' Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), have decided to boycott the power-sharing interim government.

Officials from both parties lambasted the president for what they deemed 'behind-the-scenes' efforts aimed to thwart coalition-building efforts.

"Erdogan never fully embraced the June 7 election results. He explicitly denigrated all coalition efforts and threw a spanner in the works," MHP leader Devlet Bahceli said in a press conference.

In the June 7 parliamentary elections, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lost the Parliament majority, and none of the four parties represented in Parliament were able to secure enough seats to form a single-party government alone.

Several statements later, Erdogan made clear his preference for snap polls to form the coalition hoping that the AKP, a party he headed for 13 years, will reclaim its status.

CHP spokesman, Haluk Koc, said Tuesday the AKP dragged the country into an early election under 'palace' directives, referring to the president's newly built expensive office.

"We put Turkey first. Yet the AKP prioritized the palace," he said, referring to the collapsed coalition talks between the AKP and CHP.

Davutoglu rejected criticisms from the CHP and the MHP, saying Tuesday that his party had exerted sincere efforts to build a successful coalition.

"I almost begged them," he remarked, recalling his public invitation for opposition parties to collaborate in forming a government.

KURDISH PARTY FACTOR

In contrast to the CHP and the MHP, the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) said it would join the power-sharing interim government.

Ayhan Bilgen, HDP spokesperson, stated that "We view our collaboration in the interim cabinet as a responsibility towards our voters."

However, the AKP is unwilling to bring HDP deputies into the government due to fears of the nationalist voters' backlash over the HDP's alleged link to the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK).

The PKK, listed as terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, has renewed fighting with security services in the last two months.

So far, over 60 security service members lost their lives, while the government said hundreds of PKK militants were killed in land and air campaigns conducted by the military inside Turkey and across Iraq's mountainous northern area.

ANALYSTS HIGHLIGHT PRESIDENT'S ROLE

Turkish analysts believe the president's role is a determining factor in the failed coalition talks.

"It cannot be denied that the most decisive figure in the coalition process has been President Recep Tayyip Erdogan," political analyst, Dogu Ergil, noted.

He pointed out that most Turkish citizens believe the AKP wants a repeat election under more favorable circumstances than previous ones.

Moreover, Erdogan and the AKP may not get what they want. Yavuz Baydar, another Turkish analyst, believes voters' attitudes have little changed since the June 7 elections.

"If an early election is held in November, Parliament will consist of four parties," he stated.

MORE UNCERTAINTY AHEAD

Davutoglu has five days to form the interim government, and may have to fill cabinet positions from independents out of Parliament if he is unable to get the opposition to nominate figures.

The interim government does not require a vote of confidence since it was intended to last only until elections.

The boycott by the majority of parties has increased uncertainty in the ongoing Turkish political saga, which is already complicated with the surge in violence and swelling economic woes.

"We should avoid steps which breed the impression of a political crisis in the country," Davutoglu warned Tuesday.

The value of the local lira currency was hit hard, as the stock market slumped and consumer confidence dropped to its lowest levels since 2009.

Some are apparently worried about the tenability of Turkey.

"Turkey has a profound political crisis, the economy is in trouble, with escalating violence between the state and the PKK," commented Amanda Paul, a Brussel-based analyst closely following Turkish politics. Enditem