Turkey's Erdogan 'open to coalition' after poll setback

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today held a surprise meeting with a senior opposition politician, who said the Turkish strongman was open to a coalition government to stave off the threat of political turmoil.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lost its overall majority in Sunday's polls, in what was seen as a major blow for Erdogan and the Islamic-rooted AKP which has ruled Turkey for the last 13 years.
Erdogan -- who has yet to speak in public about the results -- held two hours of unannounced talks in Ankara with Deniz Baykal who was Republican People's Party (CHP) leader until 2010 and retained his seat in the polls.

The result has plunged Turkey into a period of political uncertainty unprecedented since the AKP came to power, with the country facing either a coalition government or early elections.
The meeting came amid speculation that one way out of Turkey's political impasse could be a grand coalition between the CHP and AKP.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Baykal said Erdogan was open to all forms of coalition, in comments that further fanned speculation of grand coalition.

"I saw that Mr President has an open understanding for all kinds of coalitions," the CHP grandee said, adding Erdogan wanted to see a coalition formed as soon as possible to prevent any political chaos.

Baykal also said he saw no objection on the part of the presidency towards an opposition coalition that would not involve the AKP.
"The political parties need to talk about the issue of a coalition. The presidency is not going to prevent a consensus," he added.
Baykal then met CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu to inform him about the results of the meeting.
Veteran politician Baykal, 76, who is poised to be the acting speaker as the oldest MP, said the meeting took place at Erdogan's request.
The meeting also caused considerable ribaldry on social networks with users recalling how Erdogan had gleefully mocked Baykal when he resigned from the CHP post amid an alleged sex tape scandal.

The presidency issued only a still image of the meeting, with curiosity growing over Erdogan's reluctance to talk in public and bloggers noting he had now been "off air" for over 72 hours.
However, Erdogan is due tomorrow to give his first post-election speech at an event in Ankara.