Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has won a critical parliamentary election, regaining the majority it lost in June. With almost all ballots counted, the state-run Anadolu news agency said the AKP had won 49.4% of the vote, with the main opposition CHP on 25.4%. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said voters had “shown that they prefer action and development to controversy”. The pro-Kurdish HDP crossed the 10% threshold needed to claim seats. The nationalist MHP will also take seats in Ankara. In a statement, President Erdogan said the electorate had “given proof of their strong desire for the unity and integrity” of Turkey. Early on Monday, he called on the world to respect Turkey’s national will. Mr Erdogan called the vote after the AKP lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in 13 years in June and attempts to form a coalition government failed. Sunday’s election was, in fact, a referendum on Mr Erdogan himself. It now remains to be seen whether his renewed political strength will make him less sensitive to media criticism and enable him to reach out to his political opponents to steer the country out of the crises. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, chief of the main opposition party CHP, asked the AKP to stick to the rule of law, while Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu struck a more magnanimous tone saying, “There is no one beaten in this election. Turkey won, our democracy won”. In his speech acknowledging the AKP’s triumph, Mr Davutoglu spoke of the need for amending the constitution and sought all parties’ help in fighting terrorism but was candid enough to declare, “The new Turkey will be built under the leadership of President Erdogan”.The president should now work towards lessening divisions.
pk.shafaqna.com
