Anthony Derisiotis (PhD)
(Lecturer in Turkish Foreign Policy, Department of Turkish and Modern Asian Studies, School of Economics and Political Sciences, University of Athens, GR)
Copyright: Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 8 November 2015
After 5 turbulent months and contrary to expectations that it will again fall short of winning the majority vote, the Justice and Development party secured 49.4% of the vote and 317 seats in the 550-seat Turkish parliament, thus securing a generous majority but not the 367 seats that would pave the road for the government to proceed to the transition to a presidential system, or the 330 seats that would allow a referendum, in line with President Erdoğan's aspirations. The Republican People's party, which is the main opposition, did not succeed substantial improvement, whereas the nationalistic MHP and the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) saw their votes dropping sharply...Read more