Turkey to hold snap election in November

Ankara, Aug 25  Turkey is set to hold a snap election on November 1, an official statement said on Tuesday.

The decision came as Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglub exhausted the 45-day period given to him to form a coalition government following the June 7 elections, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Supreme Election Board (YSK) held a meeting on earlier in the day and chairman of the body Sadi Guven stated that they have agreed on holding the early elections on November 1.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a mandate to Prime Minister Davutoglu to form an interim government which will take the country to an early election, the presidential office said.

According to the constitution, Davutoglu has five days to form the interim cabinet and has to offer cabinet posts to opposition members. He can also assign candidates from outside parliament if the opposition parties turn down his offers.

The opposition parties including the Republican People's Party and the Nationalist Movement Party have refused to take part in an interim government after a series of talks.

The ruling Justice and Development Party is seeking an early election that would give the party an opportunity to win back its majority in the parliament.

No single party won a parliamentary majority to form a single-party government in the June 7 national elections.