Turkey's Davutoglu phones UK's Cameron on polls victory

ANKARA 

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu Monday phoned his British counterpart David Cameron and congratulated him on his reelection into office earlier this month, Turkish prime ministry sources said.

Cameron’s center-right Conservative Party gained an overall parliamentary majority on May 7, making him the second leader after Margaret Thatcher to remain at the kingdom's prime ministerial seat right after a full term with a larger popular vote.

During the phone conversation, the two leaders touched on the resignation of the leaders of three U.K. opposition parties after they suffered severe losses against Cameron.

Labour Party leader Ed Miliband, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, and U.K. Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage all announced their resignations shortly after the results were declared.

Davutoglu expressed his "approval of such a stance" by opposition parties, saying he "cited it as an example during the election campaign in Turkey."

In return, Cameron offered the Turkish prime minister his wishes for success in Turkey’s upcoming June 7 parliamentary elections.

During a rally in Turkey's southeast on May 8, Davutoglu called on opposition party leaders to quit politics if they are defeated.

"Here, I am making the call: Whoever loses the elections shall leave politics," he said, citing the U.K opposition leaders' resignation.

Davutoglu's Justice and Development or AK Party has been in power for over a decade, winning three local and three general elections.

After the AK Party victory in March 2014 local elections, its then chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan transferred the helm of the party to Davutoglu to run in the August presidential election, which he won, becoming the first Turkish President to be elected by popular vote.

Approximately 56 million Turkish citizens are eligible to vote in the Turkey's 25th general election to choose 550 lawmakers for the parliament. Candidates are representing 20 political parties.