Initial results of the Turkish parliamentary election held on June 7 have been made public. With 99 percent of the votes counted, 4 parties passed the 10% threshold.

The A.K.P. had won 40,85 percent of the vote. The percentage gave it an estimated 258 seats in Turkey’s Parliament. The Republican People’s Party (CHP) garnered 24.96 percent of the vote, taking 132 seats in parliament. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) took 16.30 percent of the vote, claiming a little over 80 seats. The Peoples’ Democratic party (HDP) said initial results from Sunday’s election showed it would take 80 of 550 seats, a stunning result for a party that pollsters had said would struggle to cross the required 10% threshold.

For AKP, the number is significantly lower than the party was hoping for. It was aiming for 330 seats, which would have allowed it to put any changes to the country’s constitution to a referendum without the need for votes from other parties. A total of 367 seats or more would allow it to change the constitution without needing a referendum at all. In contrast, if AKP gets fewer than 276 seats, it will have to form a coalition to rule.

According to the constitution, the president should tend toward the chairman of the party with the highest votes to kick start the formation of a government, which is Ahmet Davutoglu of the AK Party. Ahmet Davutoglu will hold meetings with CHP, MHP and HDP leaders. However, MHP and HDP leaders ruled out being part of a coalition. Though CHP didn’t demonstrate a specific position, it continued harsh accusations against the AKP.

Should the sides fail to form a coalition, new elections are a real possibility and by law could be called any time 45 days from now.

Apa.az