The Turkish president, Suleyman Demirel, has said he will not call snapelections if the new prime minister-designate, Yalim Erez, fails to find parliamentary support by the middle of January.

Mr Demirel said he wanted a government based on consensus and that if Mr Erez failed, the search would continue.

Mr Erez starts negotiations on Monday with party leaders, whose rivalries have so far blocked attempts to form a new government since the collapse last month of the conservative coalition led by the outgoing prime minister, Mesut Yilmaz.