PHOTO: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a rally on Friday — what does he do now?
With 97% of the votes counted in Turkey’s general election, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is almost certain to lose its majority in Parliament.
The AKP is projected to win about 260 of the 550 seats, compared to its current 326. Its share of 41.2% of the vote is down from 49% in 2011.
The catalyst for the end of single-party Government after 13 years was the showing of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), which is focused on a solution to the Kurdish issue but has also achieved prominence because of its promotion of women’s and LGBT rights and environmental protection. The HDP earned 12.4% of the vote — by passing the 10% threshold for representation, it has garnered about 78 seats.
The other parties in the Parliament will be the Republican People’s Party (CHP) with 25.3% and 131 seats, and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) with 16.6% and 82 seats.
Speculation is building that the AKP may try to work with the MHP to forge a coalition and ensure its continued leading position in Turkish politics.
The MHP’s deputy chairman Oktay Vural said any decision for a coalition will be made by the central leadership: “Our goal was to form a one-party government. According to the election results, however, it would be right for our headquarters to weigh up any coalition possibility.”
The prospect of a right-wing coalition did not disturb joyous celebrations of HDP supporters on Sunday night. The party’s co-chair, Selahattin Demirtaş, said, “I wholeheartedly congratulate everyone” as he derided the “unfairness” of a campaign in which the AKP used “all the state’s powers”.
It is a joint victory of the left. We know that some votes cast for us were entrusted [by supporters of other parties]. We will try to turn these temporary votes into permanent ones.
The HDP faced scores of physical attacks during its campaign. One of its campaign bus driver was murdered on June 3, and three of its supporters were killed in twin bomb blasts on its rally in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır on Friday. Concerns had also circulated about possible fraud in the observation and counting of the vote.
CHP chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was also buoyant, telling supporters, “Long live democracy!”
As for the AKP, it tried to put an acceptable face on the result while considering its next moves. “The nation’s decision is the best decision. Do not worry. We will never bow down to any power,” Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said in a brief speech to supporters in his hometown.
Another unnamed “senior AKP official” played down a coalition, saying instead, “We expect a minority government and an early election.”
