The factors behind the amazing victory of Ak Party in November 3rd elections
The second elections Turkey had to witness in 5 months have changed the whole balance in Turkish political arena. The terrorist acts by PKK (pro-Kurdish terror organization) and promises announced by the ruling party have had a strong impact on the preferences of the electorate on November 1st. This could also well mean the projects (such as introduction of presidential system) imposed by AK Party but postponed after the June 7 elections, are to be brought to the agenda of the country again following the establishment of the new “single-party” government by AK Party.
Judging on the operation president Erdoğan did at the congress of ruling AK Party the president will have much to say again regarding the execution of the Ak Party government to be formed. Erdoğan is certainly expected to be very influential at the stage of appointing the ministers of the new cabinet. To cut a long story short the president will keep on having a very tight control over the country as if it were being ruled by a presidential system.
The question at this point is how determined Erdoğan would be to push for another attempt to bring the issue of “presidential system” (perceived by many as a sort of change in regime) to the agenda again and insist on including it in the new constitution likely to be written again with a support from other parties as well.
As for the reasons behind the great success of Ak Party following points have been referred by many opinion leaders:
The negative attitude of BAHÇELİ head of MHP (National Movement Party): Bahçeli displayed a very uncompromising attitude during the attempts to form a coalition government after June 7 elections. This is considered to have been punished by many voters, certainly. Many MHP supporters shifted to AK Party bringing its votes up by 4 percent approximately.
Increase in terror acts performed by PKK and ISIS: Increase in the number of terrorist acts executed by PKK and ISIS and the drastic number of losses have caused a very powerful concern among the public that they could face a fearful period of terror again. Thus they used their preference in favor of stability and a powerful administration that could deal with it all. Besides the fact that pro-Kurdish HDP (People’s Democratic Party) did not display a strong position to criticize the terrorist acts of PKK also caused a substantial loss of HDP votes to rival AKP.
Increase in the number of financial promises made by AK Party: AK Party certainly enjoyed the favorable results it harvested by focusing its campaign on a much attractive package of financial measures it promised to put into effect to be in favor of the electorate after the elections as compared to June 7 elections.
Upgrading of deputy lists as compared to June 7 elections: Intervention of the president in the congress to upgrade the administration led to the creation of a “more powerful” party image and was awarded by many voters as well.
All in all AK Party has won its biggest victory ever and obviously awarded by an approximate 50 percent of voters. The most important point however is that another 50 percent portion have voted against the ruling party and it is now the mission for AK Party to prove that it will embrace the whole nation and not the portion that have voted in favor.
We hope that AK Party manages to succeed in this mission which would ceryainly be a milestone in the democracy history of Turkey.
Editor
