CHP urges gov't to start coalition talks

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has failed to give any party a mandate to attempt to form a coalition government, one month after general elections, while the newly elected parliamentary speaker?s office has also been stalling the coalition talks, the Republican People?s Party (CHP) has argued.

The current provisional government, which is supposed to undertake formal operations until the new government takes office, has been acting as if it is still the same government as it was before the June 7 elections, CHP Deputy Parliamentary Group Chair Levent Gök said at a press conference on July 6.

The establishment of the newly elected assembly?s bureau has been delayed and the Board of Spokespersons has still not been called for a meeting, Gök said.

Even though the Justice and Development Party (AKP) lost its parliamentary majority, it is still trying to run parliament as it did before in an attempt to create a fait accompli, he said, maintaining that such a conduct of affairs was legally inappropriate and a violation of the constitution.

In response to a question, Gök said, ?The president is in a quest to call [snap] elections without having the AKP, that is, the incumbent government, handing over the baton.?

Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu and his cabinet resigned on June 9 in line with a post-election procedure. The president approved the resignations and requested that the cabinet continue its duties until a new government is formed.

The AKP?s ?smet Y?lmaz was elected as the new parliamentary speaker on July 1. The countdown for the formation of the new government can begin only after the assembly establishes its bureau, which will consist of 15 deputies: the speaker, four vice-speakers, seven secretaries and three...