Turkey opposition accuses Erdogan of ‘coup’

The leader of Turkey’s main opposition party accuses President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of seeking to stage a “civilian coup” over plans for snap elections after coalition talks failed.

Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) lost its overall majority in June 7 legislative polls but is unable to form a coalition by the deadline that runs out Sunday.

The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), which held weeks of coalition talks with the AKP, says Erdogan deliberately stymied the negotiations in the hope of triggering new polls and a better result for his party.

“There is no law in Turkey at the moment,” says CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. “Democracy is currently suspended and the constitution is is not working,” he tells a televised meeting of CHP MPs in Ankara.

— AFP