By: Charles Ayers
Turkish voters dealt the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) and its leader President Erdogan a stinging rebuke last Sunday, in parliamentary elections that elicited a stunning 86% participation rate. President Erdogan’s plans to reform the Turkish government from a parliamentary system to one favoring a strong executive president appear derailed, as his party failed to gain 2/3 control of parliament needed to amend the constitution. Indeed, while the AKP did retain the largest number of seats, it fell short of the 276-seat majority point, necessitating the formation of a coalition government. Celebrations erupted throughout Turkey as the election results were announced, all while fears of political instability weighed down the Turkish stock market and lira (Turkey’s currency).
The three other parties to be represented in the new parliament are the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), and the People’s Democratic Party (HDP). Any ruling coalition would require at least one of these parties, and all have expressed reservations in joining with the AKP. The CHP is the traditional secular opposition, and a longtime foe of the AKP. The HDP, a historically Kurdish political party, successfully portrayed itself as liberal and minority-friendly during the election, and is unlikely to ally with the Islamic AKP. The nationalist MHP, while closest ideologically to the AKP, is also an unlikely coalition partner; its leadership is strongly resistant to a powerful presidency and wishes to revisit government corruption charges from 2013 that implicated Erdogan and several close to him. The CHP, MHP, and HDP together control enough seats to form a coalition themselves, but such a probability seems unlikely as neither the CHP nor the HDP seems willing to govern with the rightwing MHP. In the absence of an obvious ruling coalition, some analysts are speculating that President Erdogan will be forced to call for new elections in 45 days.
The election proved to be a landmark for minority groups in Turkey. 4 of the new MPs will be Christian (3 of which have Armenian backgrounds), while 2 are Yazidis. There will be a record number of women in the new parliament, with estimates indicating that some 96 will be seated.
Photo Credit:Emre Tazegul/AP