Turkey Needs Single-Party Gov’t to Fight Terrorism: Davutoglu
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu underlined that only a single-party government can contain terrorism in the country.
"A single-party government needs to be ensured to fight both the terror plague and economic challenges," Davutoglu said in an address to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) annual congress in Ankara on Saturday as the country prepares for consequential snap polls on November 1.
"We are heading towards November 1 elections on behalf of a permanent government, sustainable development and rights and freedom for everyone," he said.
During the congress, Davutoglu was once again elected as the AKP chairman in an unrivaled competition, wining 1,353 valid votes out of 1,380, Press TV reported.
The congress was overshadowed by the recent deadly clashes between the Turkish army and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants.
The PKK has been fighting for an autonomous Kurdish region inside Turkey since the 1980s. The conflict has left tens of thousands of people dead.
There has been renewed conflict between the PKK and Turkish security forces since July when Turkey began launching airstrikes against purported Daesh (ISIL) targets in Syria as well as PKK positions in Iraq after a Daesh bomb attack left 32 people dead in the southeastern Turkish town of Suruc on July 20.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was absent in the meeting, but his two daughters, Esra and Sumeyye, were in attendance.
The AKP fell short of securing sufficient votes during the legislative elections in June to form a single-party government.
Following the failure of coalition talks, Erdogan approved the formation of an interim government that will run the country until snap elections in November.