ANKARA
Turkey’s top election body has moved to quell speculation that the country will hold an early general election on Nov. 1.
The Supreme Election Board (YSK) denied some media reports which suggested it had identified a definite date for the poll.
“It is not possible to set an election date without a decision having been made to hold elections,” Sadi Guven, YSK president, told Anadolu Agency.
“YSK does not have any kind of decision right now. It is out of the question that Nov. 1 has been set as an election date,” Guven added.
The media speculation appeared to come after the YSK prepared a draft electoral calendar, which included several possible election dates. This was submitted to the four parties represented in the Turkish parliament for discussion on Thursday.
“If a decision is made to hold an [early] election, our board will decide which draft will be applied,” Guven noted.
According to Turkey’s constitution, only the president or parliament can decide to hold a new election.
Voting is supposed to be held on the first Sunday following a 90-day period starting from the end of the first deadline.
However, the election board has the power to cut this 90-day period by half, and as such, drafted a calendar so that preparations could be completed within 60 days in case of an early election call, shortening objection and application deadlines.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's Justice and Development (AK) Party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) had been negotiating for a coalition agreement after no single party won a majority in Turkey’s June 7 election.
Davutoglu, who had been asked to form a new government on July 9, announced on Monday that his Justice and Development (AK) Party's negotiations with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) ended without an agreement to form a coalition government.
It followed fruitless coalition talks between Davutoglu’s AK Party and the second-placed CHP last week.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to make a decision about an early election soon, as the 45-day deadline expires on Aug. 23.
If Erdogan calls a snap election by Sunday, then a caretaker government will be formed in five days, according to Article 114 of the Turkish constitution.
