Turkey's electoral board defines early election procedure if coalition government not formed

After the June 7 parliamentary election in which none of the parties won a majority to form the 63rd government, rumblings about early elections have surfaced since a possible coalition government is yet to form.

According to the post-election schedule described by the Supreme Electoral Board (YSK), if a government is not formed early elections are necessary and Turkey could see another parliamentary election in November. The YSK is expected to announce the final election results on June 18 or June 19 and all deputies will take their oaths in Parliament.

Following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's acceptance of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's procedural resignation, asking him and his team to stay on until the next government is formed, constitutionally, the president invites the party that received the most seats in Parliament to try and for a government. The 45 days given for this task as scheduled by the YSK will start when Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Chairman Davutoğlu is assigned to form the next government. Davutoğlu is expected to hold talks with the other three party leaders within the 45 day period, but if he is unsuccessful, the task of forming the government will be given to the Republican People's Party (CHP), which won the second most seats in Parliament. The possibility of early elections will definitely surface only if the CHP is not able to form a government. To go to early elections, a temporary Cabinet must be formed beforehand.

According to the constitutional procedure, the temporary Cabinet will announce the early elections with 48 hours when Parliament the president calls for them. If a decision for early elections is given by the Parliament, the exact date of when voters will go to the ballot box will also be designated. But if the President decides for early elections, Turkey will go to the ballot box on the first Sunday following the 90th day after the decision.

The 114th and 116th articles of the Constitution say that a government will be formed as ministers of justice, interior and transportation will be assigned by the prime minister either within Parliament or from outside as independents. Apart from these three ministers, the remaining members of the Cabinet will be shared according to the voting rates of the parties. No vote of confidence is necessary for the temporary Cabinet and they will hold their posts until the next Parliament is definitely formed.

In 2007, Turkey saw early parliamentary elections three months before they were scheduled.

In the June 7 parliamentary election, the AK Party received the most votes in a fourth consecutive general election at 40.87 percent and claimed 258 seats in Parliament, 18 short of a simple majority. The CHP followed with 24.95 percent and received 132 seats while the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) received 16.29 percent and gained 80 seats. The pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) entered Parliament for the first time as a party on June 7 when it passed the 10 percent election threshold with 13.12 percent and gained 80 seats.