Istanbul: Turkey’s Islamist AK Party achieved a convincing victory in Sunday’s parliamentary election, which gives it a third successive term, Turkish state-run television has announced.
The Justice and Development Party of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is, however, unlikely to get a two-thirds majority, which might force it to seek support from other political groups.
With 97 percent of votes counted, Erdogan’s party had won 50 percent of the votes, the television said. It added the Republican People’s Party, the main opposition party, had bagged 26 percent of the votes.
The Nationalist Action Party grabbed 13 percent votes, signaling it could stay in the parliament. There is a 10 percent vote threshold in Turkey to keep out smaller parties.
The ruling party is set to win 327 seats in the 550-seat parliament, which is four seats less than its previous election achievement. The parliament has a four-year term in Turkey.
Several thousand supporters gathered Sunday night outside the ruling party headquarters in Ankara, chanting pro-government slogans and waving Turkish flags as they awaited Erdogan, who has made it a tradition to deliver a victory speech from the building’s balcony.
About 50 million Turks, or two-thirds of the population, were eligible to vote.
For the first time, voters cast ballots in transparent plastic boxes in which the yellow envelopes could be seen piling up. The measure was designed to prevent any allegations of fraud. In past elections, wooden boxes were used.
“We have spoken, and now it is time for the people to speak,” Erdogan said at a polling station Sunday morning in Istanbul. “For us, this will be the most honorable decision and one that we will have to respect. As far as I know, the election process is continuing through the country without any problems.”
In the past decade, the government has sharply reduced the political clout of the military, and taken some steps to ease restrictions on minorities, though reforms have slowed in recent years.
Despite its successes, Turkey’s government faces opposition accusations that it seeks to consolidate power at the expense of consensus-building.
Erdogan has promised that a new constitution would include “basic rights and freedoms,” replacing a constitution implemented under the tutelage of the military in 1982. However, he has provided few details of a possible new draft.
The government has Islamic roots, long a source of suspicion among secular circles that once dominated Turkey and fear that Erdogan seeks to impose religion on society.
Turkey’s leaders, however, describe themselves as moderates and “conservative democrats” who are committed to the ideals of Western-style democracy. After winning election in 2002, they implemented economic reforms that pulled the country out of crisis. The growth rate last year was nearly 9 percent, the second highest among G-20 nations after China.
Still, political reforms faltered in the ruling party’s second term. Turkey’s bid to join the European Union has stalled, partly because of opposition in key EU nations such as Germany and France. Critics point to concerns about media freedom and the Turkish government’s plans for Internet filters as signs of intolerance toward views that don’t conform to those of Turkey’s leadership.
Sunday’s vote was an indicator of stability in a country that suffered fractious coalition politics and military coups in past decades. Most voting was peaceful and orderly, with large crowds gathering early to cast ballots.
“We have come to the end of a long marathon,” Kemal Kilicdaroglu, head of the opposition Republican People’s Party, said after arriving at a polling station with his wife and son. “Today is the time for a decision by the people. We will respect their decision. There is a good mood. There is a democracy feast.”
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription