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Turkey elections: President Recep Erdogan's party keeps control but loses seats in Turkish vote Turkey elections: President Recep Erdogan's party loses majority in poll triumph for country's Kurds
(about 2 hours later)
Turkish voters appeared on course to return the ruling Justice and Development Party to power, but without the strong showing it needed to change the constitutional powers of the President. Thousands of Kurds took to the streets in Turkey on Sunday night after the main pro-Kurdish party won enough votes to enter parliament for the first time.
With over 80 per cent of the vote counted, results gave the Justice and Development Party (AKP) more than 40 per cent of the vote, while the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) made it over the 10 per cent threshold needed to enter parliament. The general election also delivered a major blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had been hoping that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) would increase its share of the vote to allow it to change the constitution and hand him more power.
The result makes it very unlikely that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the AKP will have enough MPs to change the constitution to extend the power of the President, and may even face having to form a coalition government. That would be the first time the party was not able to rule by a majority since it came to power in 2002. However, with 99 per cent of the vote counted, the AKP appeared to have lost its parliamentary majority after getting about 41 per cent of the vote, down from 49 per cent in 2011, with the main secular opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) in second place on about 25 per cent and the nationalist MHP in third on just under 17 per cent.
The Republican People’s Party (CHP) was set to retain its status as Turkey’s second largest party, while on course to lose a couple of percentage points compared to 2011. These elections were the first time disparate Kurdish candidates had come together in the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) and it also made a bid for disenchanted left-leaning and secular CHP voters, as well as religious conservative Kurds who previously voted for the AKP.
Turkey’s national public broadcaster TRT reported a turnout of 84.9 per cent, in keeping with the country’s tradition of high levels of voter participation. The strategy appeared to have paid off with the HDP set to get 12 per cent, taking it above the 10 per cent threshold needed to get any MPs for the first time. They could now get about 80 of the 550 seats.
These elections were the first time disparate Kurdish candidates had come together in the HDP, allowing them to make it over the 10 per cent threshold required under Turkish law. Jubilant Kurds flooded the streets of Diyarbakir in south-eastern Turkey, setting off fireworks and waving flags.
The HDP has relied on cross-issue support from the electorate and made a bid for disenchanted CHP voters, as well as Kurdish voters who’ve previously voted for the AKP. “This result shows that this country has had enough. Enough of Erdogan and his anger,” said Seyran Demir, a 47-year-old housewife who was among the thousands who gathered in the streets around the HDP’s provincial headquarters.
The strategy appeared to have paid off. “I am so full of joy that I can’t speak properly.”
Top of the list for many voters wary of the AKP was what many describe as encroaching authoritarianism of President Erdogan, who was hoping to secure a so-called super majority of 367 out of 550 seats to enable it to change the constitution and create a US-style executive presidency. Sermin Ilik, 56, a retired teacher in Ankara, switched to the HDP after a lifelong commitment to the CHP. 
Sermin Ilik, 56, a retired teacher in Ankara changed to the HDP after a lifelong commitment to the CHP, having weighed up her options. 
“I think they are the most democratic party in Turkey. I really want them to pass the threshold because they will stop the AKP,” she told The Independent.“I think they are the most democratic party in Turkey. I really want them to pass the threshold because they will stop the AKP,” she told The Independent.
“They [the HDP] have struggled for years and it’s enough. I’ll give them my vote because I want to give them a chance to prove themselves. Once they have a say in parliament, they will be part of the system without their weapons,” she said, referencing the decades-long armed conflict with the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). “They [the HDP] have struggled for years and it’s enough. I’ll give them my vote because I want to give them a chance to prove themselves.”
But in the CHP-dominated Besiktas district in Istanbul, voters young and old stood by the CHP, the party founded by Kemal Ataturk. Referring to the decades-long armed conflict with the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), she added: “Once they [the HDP] have a say in parliament, they will be part of the system without their weapons.
The AKP was expected to get 258 MPs, 18 below the number needed for a majority. President Erdogan’s party had hoped to increase the number of its MPs to 367, a so-called super-majority that would have enabled it to change the constitution and create a US-style executive presidency.
It may now face having to form a coalition government, which would be the first time the party was not able to rule by a majority since it came to power in 2002.
Some suggested that could be with the CHP. In its stronghold Besiktas district in Istanbul, voters young and old stood by the party founded by Kemal Ataturk.
“I would prefer a coalition of the AKP and the CHP to having the HDP in government – they’re terrorists,” said 22-year-old Yasin.“I would prefer a coalition of the AKP and the CHP to having the HDP in government – they’re terrorists,” said 22-year-old Yasin.
For AKP voters, however, their party is the only one they think can provide stability. Many remember the days of seemingly endless coalition governments, a weak economy and political infighting.For AKP voters, however, their party is the only one they think can provide stability. Many remember the days of seemingly endless coalition governments, a weak economy and political infighting.
“We need a strong leader. This government has been in power for 12 years and it keeps being successful,” Firat, 30, said from behind his counter in Istanbul’s pro-AKP neighbourhood of Tophane.“We need a strong leader. This government has been in power for 12 years and it keeps being successful,” Firat, 30, said from behind his counter in Istanbul’s pro-AKP neighbourhood of Tophane.
Across town, the atmosphere was tense as hundreds milled around a polling station in Okmeydani, an area renowned for violence against the Turkish state.
Mehmet Gorgü, 23, and his mother Sisan, 57, were in good spirits, however, as they voted – both firm supporters of the HDP and its charismatic leader, Selahattin Demirtas.
“We’re voting for brightness and a change,” said Sisan.