Polls close in Turkish election
Two days after having an election rally struck by a lethal bomb blast the Kurdish People's Democratic Party is expected to garner enough votes to have seats in parliament
Polling booths have just closed in Turkey, in what many expect to be the closest parliamentary election for more than a decade.
The country’s 54 million-strong electorate is to decide on whether the ruling Justice and Development (AK) party will maintain a majority it has enjoyed for the last 13 years.
The AK party is seeking a two thirds majority of the 550 seats available. Should it be successful, it has promised to amend Turkey’s constitution to replace the parliamentary system with a US style presidential model, giving Erdogan considerably wider powers.
In spite of being required by the constitution to stay above the fray of party politics, Erdogan has joined Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in attacks on opposition parties.
Together, Erdogan and Davutoglu have pushed the message that the election is a choice between a “new Turkey” and a return to a history of failed coalition governments, economic instability and military coups.
The main opposition comes from the Republican People’s party which says it is time for change, however the main source of tensions this year is the rise of the Kurdish People’s Democratic Party or HDP.
Two days after having an election rally struck by a bomb blast which killed two and wounded over a hundred people, the HDP is expected to garner enough votes to earn seats in parliament.
Should they succeed in doing so, they will become the first Kurdish party to be represented in parliament and might form a strong opposition with left wing allies to oppose the AK Party.
