Turkey’s AKP faces challenge to form government

Turkey’s AK party faces a challenge to form a government after losing its majority at a general election for the first time in 13 years, the BBC reports.

It secured 41%, a sharp drop from 2011, when it won nearly half of the vote.

Under Turkey’s proportional representation system, this means the AKP will need to form a coalition or face entering a minority government.

The pro-Kurdish HDP crossed the 10% threshold, securing seats in parliament for the first time.

The result is a blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s plans to boost his office’s powers.

Speaking from the balcony of the AKP headquarters in Ankara Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said: “The winner of the election is again the AKP, there’s no doubt.”

But he added: “Our people’s decision is final. It’s above everything and we will act in line with it.”