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| Turkish president's rule hangs in balance as country goes to polls | Turkish president's rule hangs in balance as country goes to polls |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Turkish voters are going to the polls in parliamentary elections that could end more than a decade of single-party rule by the Justice and Development party (AKP). | Turkish voters are going to the polls in parliamentary elections that could end more than a decade of single-party rule by the Justice and Development party (AKP). |
| Voting stations around the country opened on Sunday morning in the snap elections, which were called by the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, after negotiations to form a coalition with the opposition following an inconclusive vote in June fell apart. | Voting stations around the country opened on Sunday morning in the snap elections, which were called by the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, after negotiations to form a coalition with the opposition following an inconclusive vote in June fell apart. |
| Related: Turkey election 2015: are you voting? | |
| Now the divisive figure of Erdoğan, accused by critics of authoritarianism, repression of his opponents and suppression of press freedom, is front and centre in polls that could put an end to what his critics say are ambitions to consolidate the power of his office and transform Turkey from a parliamentary system into a president-led republic. | Now the divisive figure of Erdoğan, accused by critics of authoritarianism, repression of his opponents and suppression of press freedom, is front and centre in polls that could put an end to what his critics say are ambitions to consolidate the power of his office and transform Turkey from a parliamentary system into a president-led republic. |
| “There is only one person who calls the shots – President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,” said one source in Istanbul with connections to various political parties. “He is not a rational player. His ambitions take precedence. He is in control of all the system and in full command of the party. This is the core of the problem.” | “There is only one person who calls the shots – President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,” said one source in Istanbul with connections to various political parties. “He is not a rational player. His ambitions take precedence. He is in control of all the system and in full command of the party. This is the core of the problem.” |
| That, in itself, may not be a problem for supporters of the AKP, some of whom see the attacks against Erdoğan as even more reason to support him. | That, in itself, may not be a problem for supporters of the AKP, some of whom see the attacks against Erdoğan as even more reason to support him. |
| “There is a saying that tells you to watch for the enemy’s arrows and the person they are targeting is a good man and a good leader,” said Recep, a 46-year-old volunteer at an AKP election tent near the city’s old spice bazaar. “Every arrow is against Erdoğan.” | “There is a saying that tells you to watch for the enemy’s arrows and the person they are targeting is a good man and a good leader,” said Recep, a 46-year-old volunteer at an AKP election tent near the city’s old spice bazaar. “Every arrow is against Erdoğan.” |
| Related: Diyarbakir prepares to vote: 'There is no joy in the runup to these elections' | Related: Diyarbakir prepares to vote: 'There is no joy in the runup to these elections' |
| The elections in Turkey are taking place against a backdrop of instability and renewed violence. Earlier this month, twin suicide bombings targeted a peace rally in the capital, Ankara, killing dozens of people in the worst ever terrorist attack on Turkish soil. Another attack in the town of Suruç near the Syrian border killed 32 people, mostly Kurdish activists. | The elections in Turkey are taking place against a backdrop of instability and renewed violence. Earlier this month, twin suicide bombings targeted a peace rally in the capital, Ankara, killing dozens of people in the worst ever terrorist attack on Turkish soil. Another attack in the town of Suruç near the Syrian border killed 32 people, mostly Kurdish activists. |
| The Turkish government has also cracked down on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) in recent months, suspending a peace process that aimed to pacify the long-running insurgency. Critics also say the government’s policy on Syria, which involves backing rebels fighting to overthrow the president, Bashar al-Assad, has contributed to instability. | The Turkish government has also cracked down on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) in recent months, suspending a peace process that aimed to pacify the long-running insurgency. Critics also say the government’s policy on Syria, which involves backing rebels fighting to overthrow the president, Bashar al-Assad, has contributed to instability. |
| Turkey hosts more than 2 million Syrian refugees, many of whom go on to attempt dangerous passages across the Mediterranean seeking refuge in Europe. | Turkey hosts more than 2 million Syrian refugees, many of whom go on to attempt dangerous passages across the Mediterranean seeking refuge in Europe. |
| Parliamentary elections in June saw the ascendance of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), which garnered 13% of the vote and robbed the AKP of its majority for the first time since 2002. Though it had won the largest share of the vote, the AKP had to try to form a coalition with its opponents. Talks foundered and Erdoğan – who opponents say had hoped the success at the polls would aid his ambition of rewriting the constitution to establish himself as an all-powerful executive president – called fresh elections. | Parliamentary elections in June saw the ascendance of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), which garnered 13% of the vote and robbed the AKP of its majority for the first time since 2002. Though it had won the largest share of the vote, the AKP had to try to form a coalition with its opponents. Talks foundered and Erdoğan – who opponents say had hoped the success at the polls would aid his ambition of rewriting the constitution to establish himself as an all-powerful executive president – called fresh elections. |
| Related: Turkey election: ruling party loses majority as pro-Kurdish HDP gains seats | |
| Opponents fear that if the AKP gains additional seats in the new election it will encourage Erdoğan to further stall government formation and even to call for a third round of elections in an attempt to secure enough dominance over the legislature to form another single-party government. | Opponents fear that if the AKP gains additional seats in the new election it will encourage Erdoğan to further stall government formation and even to call for a third round of elections in an attempt to secure enough dominance over the legislature to form another single-party government. |
| The AKP’s strategy appears to be aimed at luring more nationalist heartland voters to its camp, a prospect bolstered by its crackdown on Kurdish militancy. Recent polls appear to show the only party likely to sustain significant losses in the elections is the nationalist MHP. | The AKP’s strategy appears to be aimed at luring more nationalist heartland voters to its camp, a prospect bolstered by its crackdown on Kurdish militancy. Recent polls appear to show the only party likely to sustain significant losses in the elections is the nationalist MHP. |
| “The AKP only care about their seats,” said Hasan Demir, a 26-year-old textile worker who was handing out leaflets at an HDP election tent in Istanbul. “I’m voting HDP because they are acting on behalf of everyone, not just one group of people, religion or language.” | “The AKP only care about their seats,” said Hasan Demir, a 26-year-old textile worker who was handing out leaflets at an HDP election tent in Istanbul. “I’m voting HDP because they are acting on behalf of everyone, not just one group of people, religion or language.” |
| Still, pro-AKP voters said they would back the party because they felt it was the only one capable of maintaining stability, and because its infrastructure and social development projects had lifted them out of hardship and poverty. | Still, pro-AKP voters said they would back the party because they felt it was the only one capable of maintaining stability, and because its infrastructure and social development projects had lifted them out of hardship and poverty. |
| “I remember my mother standing for so long in lines to get medicine,” said Kadir Ulu, a 20-year-old university student when asked why he was going to vote for the AKP. | “I remember my mother standing for so long in lines to get medicine,” said Kadir Ulu, a 20-year-old university student when asked why he was going to vote for the AKP. |