Elections Turkey

The AKP has gained the absolute majority in Turkey’s recent snap elections, allowing it to continue to rule without a coalition partner. Deep rifts within Turkish society, however, remain. A take on the elections by Kristian Brakel, office director in Istanbul.

For the last 30 years, the Kurdish movement has given birth to a myriad of organisations. Its newest offspring is the Democratic Peoples’ Party (HDP – Halkların Demokratik Partisi) that received more than six million (13.12%) votes (80 seats) in the last election. With new elections looming in November 2015 and new clashes flaring up between the Turkish government and the PKK, the HDP’s future hangs in the balance as well.