UK parliament holds first post-election session

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - Conservative MP John Bercow was reelected as the speaker of the British parliament’s lower chamber for the third time as the newly elected members convened for the first time since last week's vote.

Bercow's reelection Tuesday afternoon came following a meeting between Prime Minister Theresa May and the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster for talks on a "confidence and supply" deal that would allow the Conservatives to form a minority government following their loss of parliament majority in last week’s snap election.

“At least someone got a landslide,” May joked in a short congratulatory speech, referring to her failed election ambitions of boosting her majority.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn also congratulated Bercow, adding his movement was ready to provide a "strong and stable" government should May fail to negotiate her “coalition of chaos” -- a clear jab at the Conservative leader's campaign slogans.

Meanwhile, DUP leader Arlene Foster tweeted that discussions with May were "going well" and offered hopes of a "successful conclusion".

May is expected to form the new government this week, before the Brexit negotiations with the EU start on June 19, the very day the Queen’s Speech -- a ceremonial event at the opening of the new government where the queen reads out a text on future government policies -- was supposed to take place.

The speech will be delayed until a deal with the DUP is finalized.

During the weekend, Corbyn called for a second general election, claiming his party was positioned to win.

According to final results of the June 8 snap election, the 650 seats of the House of Commons were won as follows: Conservative Party 318, Labour Party 262, Scottish National Party 35, Liberal Democrats 12, DUP 10, and others 13.