This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/07/turkey-votes-election-could-bolster-presidents-powers-erdogan
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Turkey votes in election that could bolster president's powers | Turkey votes in election that could bolster president's powers |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Voting has started in Turkey in a crucial parliamentary election that will determine whether the ruling party can rewrite the constitution to bolster the powers of the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. | Voting has started in Turkey in a crucial parliamentary election that will determine whether the ruling party can rewrite the constitution to bolster the powers of the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. |
| Erdoğan himself was not on the ballot. Still, the election is in effect a referendum on whether to endow his office with extraordinary powers that would significantly change Turkish democracy and prolong his reign as the country’s most powerful politician. | Erdoğan himself was not on the ballot. Still, the election is in effect a referendum on whether to endow his office with extraordinary powers that would significantly change Turkish democracy and prolong his reign as the country’s most powerful politician. |
| Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development party, the AKP, is expected to win significantly more votes than any opposition party but it must win a supermajority of the 550 seats in parliament to change the constitution. | Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development party, the AKP, is expected to win significantly more votes than any opposition party but it must win a supermajority of the 550 seats in parliament to change the constitution. |
| All eyes will be on the results for the main Kurdish party, HDP. If it crosses a 10% threshold for entering parliament as a party, that would extinguish AKP’s constitutional plans. | All eyes will be on the results for the main Kurdish party, HDP. If it crosses a 10% threshold for entering parliament as a party, that would extinguish AKP’s constitutional plans. |
| The vote comes amid high tensions following bombings on Friday during an HDP rally that killed two people and injured many. On Sunday, the prime minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said a suspect had been detained in the attack. | |
| More than 53 million voters in Turkey and abroad are eligible to choose the deputies to the grand national assembly. If the AKP wins a majority of 330 seats, it could call for a national referendum to change the constitution. If the party captures 367 seats, it could vote in a change without a referendum. | |
| After casting his vote, the HDP leader, Selahattin Demirtas, called for peace to follow what he described as an “onerous and a troubled campaign”. | After casting his vote, the HDP leader, Selahattin Demirtas, called for peace to follow what he described as an “onerous and a troubled campaign”. |
| Aside from the constitutional issues, the election could have a major impact on the peace process to end decades of insurgency by Kurdish militants in Turkey. | Aside from the constitutional issues, the election could have a major impact on the peace process to end decades of insurgency by Kurdish militants in Turkey. |
| Erdoğan has been Turkey’s dominant politician since his party swept into power in 2002 – becoming prime minister in 2003 and leading his party to two overwhelming parliamentary election victories. In a gamble, last year he decided to run for president, banking that his party could later bolster his powers. | Erdoğan has been Turkey’s dominant politician since his party swept into power in 2002 – becoming prime minister in 2003 and leading his party to two overwhelming parliamentary election victories. In a gamble, last year he decided to run for president, banking that his party could later bolster his powers. |
| Under the current constitution, Erdoğan is meant to stay above the political fray as president. But he has been campaigning vociferously, drawing complaints from the opposition that he is ignoring the constitution. | Under the current constitution, Erdoğan is meant to stay above the political fray as president. But he has been campaigning vociferously, drawing complaints from the opposition that he is ignoring the constitution. |
| Early in the campaign, he called on voters to give AKP 400 deputies, but a slim majority for the ruling party is a more likely result. That could leave Erdoğan stranded in the presidential palace without the powers he has long sought. | Early in the campaign, he called on voters to give AKP 400 deputies, but a slim majority for the ruling party is a more likely result. That could leave Erdoğan stranded in the presidential palace without the powers he has long sought. |
| A narrow win by the AKP, however, could be the best result for Davutoglu, who would lose power if Erdoğan has his way. | A narrow win by the AKP, however, could be the best result for Davutoglu, who would lose power if Erdoğan has his way. |
| Opposition parties, including the main opposition Republican People’s party (CHP), and the nationalist MHP party are looking stronger in a recent poll, campaigning on positive economic agendas instead of merely criticising Erdoğan and the AKP. | Opposition parties, including the main opposition Republican People’s party (CHP), and the nationalist MHP party are looking stronger in a recent poll, campaigning on positive economic agendas instead of merely criticising Erdoğan and the AKP. |
| Hakan Kiziltan, an Ankara resident, expressed optimism after voting on Sunday. | Hakan Kiziltan, an Ankara resident, expressed optimism after voting on Sunday. |
| “May it be good for our people and our country,” he said. “I believe our country will go even further after these elections.” | “May it be good for our people and our country,” he said. “I believe our country will go even further after these elections.” |