Minor Turkish Party Open To Form Electoral Alliance

The leader of a minor political party in Turkey on Sunday said he was open to form an alliance in the forthcoming general election.



"We are ready for an alliance with the parties that we can compromise with under certain principles," Felicity Party leader Mustafa Kamalak told a news conference in Erzurum, eastern Turkey.



The AK Party, which had ruled Turkey since 2002, came first in the June 7 election, however, without a parliamentary majority, and, following efforts to form a coalition government proved futile, a fresh election was called last week.



The Felicity Party, which is not represented in parliament, won just over 2 percent of the national vote in June. It shares similar political roots with the AK Party.



"We will definitely not make concessions to our principles and policies," Kamalak said. Referring to renewed violence in Turkey, he added: "Our country is burning and we are ready to ally with those who are eager to put out the fire." - İstanbul