Turkish opposition parties form alliance before June 24 vote

By: The Associated Press

Saturday, May 5, 2018 8:25 AM

ISTANBUL (AP) Four opposition parties in Turkey have announced a political alliance ahead of the country's June 24 national election, aiming to mount a meaningful challenge to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party.

Speaking to reporters Saturday, the main opposition Republican People's Party lawmaker Bulent Tezcan announced the "nation alliance." His party is joining forces with the newly-founded nationalist Good Party, the Islamic-leaning Felicity Party and the center-right Democrat Party in a bid to weaken the ruling party's 16-year dominance in parliament.

Tezcan said candidates from the Democrat Party would run under the Good Party.

The parties will all field their own presidential candidates to run against Erdogan and will run as an alliance for the parliamentary election, which is scheduled for the same day.

Turkish opposition parties form alliance before June 24 vote

Muharrem Ince, a lawmaker with Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party, CHP, and the party's presidential candidate, prays with supporters as he begins his campaign in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, May 4, 2018. The party has nominated Ince to run against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming presidential election on June 24, 2018. The 54-year-old former physics teacher has been a fierce critic of Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party. (AP Photo)

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Muharrem Ince, center, a lawmaker with Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party, CHP, and the party's presidential candidate, prays with supporters as he begins his campaign in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, May 4, 2018. The party has nominated Ince to run against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming presidential election on June 24, 2018. The 54-year-old former physics teacher has been a fierce critic of Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party. (AP Photo)

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Backdropped by posters of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, centre left, founder of modern Turkey, and current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, centre right, hang from a restoration wall on the Yeni Cami (New Mosque) as people walk at the Spice Bazaar Plaza in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, May 5, 2018. Turkey holds presidential elections on June 24, 2018, seen as important as it will transform Turkey's governing system to an executive presidency, a constitutional change that was narrowly approved last year in a referendum.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

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Muharrem Ince, a lawmaker with Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party, CHP, and the party's presidential candidate, waves to supporters as he begins his campaign in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, May 4, 2018. The party has nominated Ince to run against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming presidential election on June 24, 2018. The 54-year-old former physics teacher has been a fierce critic of Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party. (AP Photo)

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Supporters of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) some holding pictures of the party's former co-leader Selahattin Demirtas, currently in prison on charges of leading a terror organisation, chant slogans during a rally announcing him as a presidential candidate in Istanbul, Friday, May 4, 2018. The HDP announced the nomination of Demirtas for the upcoming presidential elections in Turkey, scheduled for June 24, 2018. It's unclear if Turkey's electoral board will approve Demirtas's candidacy. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

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Surrounded by members of the media and supporters, Muharrem Ince, center, a lawmaker with Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party, CHP, and the party's presidential candidate, walks as he begins his campaign in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, May 4, 2018. The party has nominated Ince to run against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming presidential election on June 24, 2018. The 54-year-old former physics teacher has been a fierce critic of Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party. (AP Photo)

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A supporter of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party, (HDP), holds pictures of the party's former co-leader Selahattin Demirtas, currently in prison on charges of leading a terror organisation, during a rally announcing him as a presidential candidate in Istanbul, Friday, May 4, 2018. The HDP announced the nomination of Demirtas for the upcoming presidential elections in Turkey, scheduled for June 24, 2018. It's unclear if Turkey's electoral board will approve Demirtas's candidacy. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

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A child attends waits for Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan prior to the re-opening of the Spice Bazaar following restoration in Istanbul, Friday, May 4, 2018. Turkish opposition parties nominated candidates Friday to run against Erdogan in June 24, 2018 election, which will centralise even more powers into the hands of the president. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

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In this handout photo provided by the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), former co-leader of the party Selahattin Demirtas sits in prison in Turkey, Friday, May 4, 2018. The HDP announced the nomination of Demirtas for the upcoming presidential elections in Turkey, scheduled for June 24, 2018. Demirtas, who has been behind bars since November 2016, is in prison accused of links to outlawed Kurdish rebels and is facing a 142-year sentence on charges of leading a terror organization. It's unclear if Turkey's electoral board will approve Demirtas's candidacy. (HDP via AP)

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In this handout photo provided by the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), former co-leader of the party Selahattin Demirtas poses for a photo in prison in Turkey, Friday, May 4, 2018. The HDP announced the nomination of Demirtas for the upcoming presidential elections in Turkey, scheduled for June 24, 2018. Demirtas, who has been behind bars since November 2016, is in prison accused of links to outlawed Kurdish rebels and is facing a 142-year sentence on charges of leading a terror organization. It's unclear if Turkey's electoral board will approve Demirtas's candidacy. (HDP via AP)

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