Laying the Cornerstone for a New Turkey: the June 24 Elections

COMMENTARY LAYING THE CORNERSTONE FOR A NEW TURKEY: THE JUNE 24 ELECTIONS

Laying the Cornerstone for a New Turkey: The June 24 Elections

FAHRETTİN ALTUN*

ABSTRACT On June 24, 2018, with a participation rate of more than 85 percent, Turkey elected its President and parliamentarians. While determining Turkey’s political fate, the elections were also of significant importance as they allowed for the final step of the transition to the new presidential governance system that was accepted with the April 16, 2017 referendum. This commentary aims to provide an analysis of the period from the referendum to the June 24, 2018 elections. After providing the main reasons that led to snap elections, the commentary analyses the electoral campaign strategies and the election results.

Introduction leadership of Erdoğan, apart from becoming the party that gained the n June 24, 2018, with a partic- most votes in the election, by form- ipation rate of 86.24 percent ing the People’s Alliance (Cumhur Oin parliamentary and 86.22 İttifakı) with the Nationalist Action percent in presidential elections –a Party (Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi, level that has not been reached by MHP), the AK Party laid the way many western democracies– Turkey for a strong parliamentary coalition. elected its President and parliamen- As such, after the June 24 elections, tarians. The winners of this election the People’s Alliance took its place were Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and in the legislature with a total of 344 the Justice and Development Party Members of Parliament (MP) form- (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AK ing a substantial majority. Formed in Party). Thus, by obtaining 52.5 per- opposition to the People’s Alliance, * Ibn Haldun cent of the vote, Erdoğan became the the Nation Alliance (Millet İttifakı), University, first President under the new system, composed of the Republican Peo- Turkey while the AK Party received 42.6 ple’s Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi, Insight Turkey percent of the vote and obtained 295 CHP), İyi Party and Felicity Party Vol. 20 / No. 3 / seats in the parliament. Under the (Saadet Partisi) failed to reach its 2018, pp. 89-102

DOI: 10.25253/99.2018203.06 2018 Summer 89 COMMENTARY FAHRETTİN ALTUN

ish electorate refreshed their trust in The domestic and Erdoğan and with strong political support, displayed their belief in the international threats made new system. In opposition to this, against Turkey’s stability, candidates defending the old system economic development experienced a clear defeat, in fact, the vote that Erdoğan received alone and societal peace made was more than the total vote for all early elections a “national other presidential candidates; CHP’s presidential candidate Muharrem obligation.” İnce received 30.6 percent, İyi Party candidate Meral Akşener received 7.3 percent, HDP’s candidate Sela- aims. Within this framework, as the hattin Demirtaş 8.4 percent and fi- participants of this alliance, the CHP nally, Felicity Party candidate Temel received 22.6 percent of the vote and Karamollaoğlu only received 0.9 per- 146 MPs while the İyi Party received cent of the total vote. 9.96 percent of the vote and 43 MPs. The Felicity Party only received 1.4 Within this framework, the June 24 percent of the vote and thus failed to elections have brought important elect any MPs, however, the party had dynamics into Turkish political life. put two of its candidates into CHP Events that occurred between the ref- lists and they were therefore elected erendum and the elections and the to parliament. Also, by supporting strategies of the alliances have left the Nation Alliance from out with, their mark on the election process. the political representatives of the With the new system of governance PKK –the Peoples’ Democratic Party showing how important it is in spec- (HDP) with the help of the CHP, re- ifying the country’s sociologic politi- ceived 11.7 percent of the vote and cal position. obtained 67 MPs. This commentary aims to provide an While determining Turkey’s polit- analysis of the period from the April ical fate, the June 24 elections were 16 referendum to the June 24 elec- also of significant importance as the tions. It initially discusses the impor- election allowed for the final step of tance of the presidential governance the transition to the new presiden- system and the different reasons why tial system of governance that was an early election was needed. This is accepted on April 16, 2017. Conse- followed by a discussion of the differ- quently Turkey, currently in a pro- ent stages of preparation undertaken cess of democratic transition, left by the political parties with regard to behind the slow and disorganized the June 24 elections, and by draw- parliamentary system and moved ing on their strategies and rhetoric forward with the new presidential assesses the extent to which this has system. Within this period, the Turk- been reflected in the election results.

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President Erdoğan greets the crowd from the balcony of the ruling AK Party’s headquarters following his election success in presidential and parliamentary elections on June 25, 2018. KAYHAN ÖZER / AA Photo

Finally, this commentary briefly anal- principle showed itself in the run-up yses the election results. to the June 24 elections, which were the result of extraordinary circum- stances, which will be discussed un- Why Snap Elections? der five subheadings.

Since 2002, President Erdoğan has Firstly, with the successful alliance been in favor of holding elections on that the AK Party and MHP formed time and has not approached any of- after the failed July 15 coup attempt, fer of an early election warm-heart- both parties wanted to protect the edly. The only exception to this was alliance and wanted to eliminate any in 2007 when elements of the status political instability that could be ex- quo created a crisis aiming to pre- perienced while Turkey was witness- vent the AK Party from having any ing its systematic transition. There- say in the presidential appointment. fore it was in fact the leader of the In response to this, Erdoğan decided MHP, Devlet Bahçeli, who first called to hold early elections and took the for snap elections and President Er- country to elections three and a half doğan responded positively. months before the initial date.1 While Erdoğan has strongly insisted on Secondly, the domestic and interna- holding elections on time, he has at tional threats made against Turkey’s times acceded to holding snap elec- stability, economic development and tions in extraordinary situations. This societal peace made early elections

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a “national obligation.” In particular, to use non-democratic means includ- the financial attacks at an interna- ing the organization of street protests tional level on Turkey’s growing econ- similar to that of the “Gezi events” of omy, and the attempt to manipulate 2013. The sole common point bring- the markets are crucial reasons as to ing the Nation Alliance together is why the elections had to be held im- that of being anti-Erdoğan. Among mediately. It is possible to argue that the opposition however, it was un- had the elections taken place in 2019, clear how they would counter Er- there would have been unease in the doğan in the area of democratic polit- markets, which could have increased ical competition, and around which the possibility of difficulties in invest- leader this position would be trans- ment moves, big development proj- formed into political gains. ects and in finding financial support. The threat Turkey is faced with is not Finally, Turkey chose the presidential only economic. Ankara is currently system on April 16, 2017, and since pursuing military operations in then it has been in a transitional pe- Northern Iraq against the PKK/PYD riod. While the laws required for terrorist organization. In order to the adjustment to the new system of maintain these operations and to en- governance have been in the making sure political stability, Turkey needed since then, the points of response and the swift completion of the transition resistance, especially in the govern- to a new system of governance; when ment bureaucracy, made it difficult taking into consideration that the for political actors in decision mak- fight against terrorism is a first-de- ing positions –which also delayed the gree factor that affects Turkey’s polit- enacting of long-term policies. In or- ical stability, it is possible to state that der to break the bureaucratic oligar- the decision to hold snap elections chy and for the constitutional change was rational and essential. agreed upon on April 16 to be imple- mented, it was necessary for Turkey Thirdly, Turkey has been in an atmo- to hold snap elections. sphere of election expectation for 22 months. After the ruling AK Party As a result, in order for Turkey to and the MHP started to collaborate, overcome her political uncertainties, whether intended or not, the as- and for the country to complete the sumption of snap elections amongst transition to a presidential system the public and within the state appa- on solid foundations, Erdoğan and ratus was evident. However, pointing Bahçeli agreed to hold the elections on to November 2019 as a possible date June 24 and such a decision was also for the elections caused stagnation in supported by the opposition parties. both the public and private sector. However, this support was not for the reasons that were mentioned above, Fourthly, the opposition began to feel i.e. threats that Turkey is facing within overwhelmed in the face of the AK and out with of its borders, political Party-MHP alliance and attempted instability or the successful transition

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to a presidential system. The opposition did not perceive the snap elec- The most prominent weakness tions as a solution to these problems, but rather as an opportunity to come of this alliance was the in to power. This assessment can be fact that apart from being supported by the opposition parties’ anti-Erdoğan, the political stance during the electoral campaign when they turned the international parties involved had no other financial attacks on Turkey into polit- common ground or ideological ical tools. Moreover, they did not support the government’s fight against cohesiveness terrorism, and rather than supporting the transition to a new system, which would speed up decision making pro- The most important factor uniting cesses, they preferred to remain with the alliance formed by the opposi- the existing one. tion is that it was based around an anti-Erdoğan framework. As a matter of fact, after the June 24 election de- June 24 Electoral Campaigns cision was made, the political strategies of the opposition parties was Agreed upon due to the reasons Erdoğan-centered and their whole stated above, the AK Party and MHP strategy was formed on trying to announced that they would continue ensure he was not re-elected. This with their alliance, which they formed includes the period from the selec- after the failed coup attempt on July tion of their presidential candidate 15 and continued up to the referen- to their actual election strategy. In dum period, during the June 24 elec- this regard, representatives of left- tions. Both parties clearly stated that wing Kemalist politics, CHP, and the the reason for their alliance was not secular nationalists who departed to strive for power, but rather was due from the MHP, İyi Party, formed an to the survival of the country.2 Within alliance. The Felicity Party, which as- this framework, the AK Party and the sumes itself as an Islamist party rep- MHP made it clear that they held resenting anti-European Union and joint visions in many areas, including anti-capitalist policies, also joined most importantly, foreign policy and this alliance. The political representa- security issues. Moreover, these two tives of the PKK/PYD, the HDP also parties were the ones that passed the gave de facto support and the Nation legislation on the ability to form an Alliance was formed. alliance with different parties before elections through parliament. Under The most prominent weakness of this the law that was passed, the AK Party alliance was the fact that apart from and MHP formed the People’s Alli- being anti-Erdoğan, the political par- ance and the opposition parties were ties involved had no other common able to form the Nation Alliance. ground or ideological cohesiveness.

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President Erdoğan takes oath of office Moreover, parties within the Nation this unity, the opposition parties got as the first Alliance failed to develop a common head of the to work and the CHP, İyi Party, and new executive perspective with regards to the do- Felicity Party formed the Nation Alli- presidency on mestic and international problems ance and the HDP supported this al- July 9, 2018. that Turkey is facing and in reference liance even though it did not become KAYHAN ÖZER / to these issues, repeatedly made an- officially involved. AA Photo nouncements that contradicted each other. Another weakness of the Na- As mentioned earlier, although the tion Alliance is that they failed to se- parties within the Nation Alliance lect a joint presidential candidate. have very different political ideolo- gies from each other, they decided In January 2018, when the date of the to work together within the election early elections had not yet been an- period. After the decision to go to nounced, the AK Party and MHP an- early elections was announced, the nounced that they would form an al- first thing that the opposition did was liance during the first upcoming elec- try to decide on a joint presidential tion and announced that the name candidate. When the idea of a joint of the alliance they formed after the presidential candidate came on the July 15 coup attempt would be the agenda, the CHP tried to reach to an People’s Alliance. From the very first agreement with Abdullah Gül, who day, the People’s Alliance determined had been selected as president from their presidential candidate to be Re- the AK Party in 2007 but at that time cep Tayyip Erdoğan. In opposition to was opposed by the CHP. Although

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the CHP and HDP management merged around Gül, a group within On the road to the June 24 the CHP and the İyi Party Leader Akşener did not approach the can- elections, the People’s Alliance didacy of Abdullah Gül warmly. In developed a discourse that order to persuade Akşener, the CHP defended the concrete steps transferred 15 of its MPs to the İyi Party. However, this was not suffi- taken to satisfy national cient enough to persuade her. In the security concerns and end, the attempt to show Gül as the joint candidate failed and all parties directed to the more active within the alliance put forward their fight against terrorism that own candidates. they intended to pursue in In comparison to other parties, the the future in order to solve CHP was the party that struggled terrorism for once and for all the most in determining its presidential candidate. The reason for this was because the CHP could not approach the presidential elections free Having made this clear, the next sec- from the on-going intra-party rivalry. tion of this commentary will outline This situation, more than anything, is the election strategies of the People’s about the design of the new system. Alliance and the Nation Alliance. It This is because the new system pre- will especially analyze the political vents a presidential candidate from vision put forward by the People’s Al- being simultaneously elected to par- liance –the victors of the election. liament so that if they lose the elections, they are left outside parliament. The People’s Alliance’s Election Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, CHP’s leader, Strategy could not bear this risk and for this The People’s Alliance formed its June reason proposed his biggest rival, 24 election strategy on three levels: (i) Muharrem İnce, as CHP’s presiden- the country’s security problems and tial candidate. While Kılıçdaroğlu the survival of the state, (ii) carrying saw this as an opportunity to guar- into effect the new judicial system antee his own seat in the party, İnce and (iii) concrete promises and proj- viewed the presidential elections as ects offered to the electorate. an opportunity to protect and pro- mote his position within the CHP. In In recent times the fight against ter- this respect, it is clear that the biggest rorism and the issue of security has partner of the Nation Alliance, the been the leading factors on the Turk- CHP, viewed the presidential elec- ish political agenda. Especially with tions not as a matter of national im- the increase of street protests, ter- portance but more of an issue for its rorist attacks and the military coup own party administration. attempt since 2013, political actors

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inate the main source of terrorism. The Nation Alliance’s criticism In this framework, Turkey started military operations outside its bor- of the state of emergency lost der first against ISIS and then against its ground as President Erdoğan the PKK. With this new concept, the announced immediately after Turkish government also intervened in FETÖ’s international operations the elections, that the state of and began operations on FETÖ fu- emergency would be abolished gitives who had fled abroad. MHP stated that it was also alongside the AK Party in its fight against FETÖ and claimed that defeating this ter- brought the survival of the state for- rorist organization was something ward as a centralized discourse. Fol- akin to a war of liberation.3 However, lowing the failed coup attempt on this support was not only limited to July 15 and the increase of terror- FETÖ. The border operations con- ist attacks, a large section of society ducted by the AK Party against PKK/ feared that the country was under the PYD terror in Iraq and Syria have threat of secession and occupation. also been welcomed by the MHP and With this therefore, the PKK, ISIS a common principle was found in the and the Fetullah Terrorist Organiza- fight against all types of terror. Pres- tion (FETÖ) led by Fetullah Gülen, ident Erdoğan repeatedly emphasizes were all identified as terrorist groups how important it is to eliminate ter- that had to be eliminated. rorism in order to secure the country’s national security. Especially after the July 15 coup attempt, in an attempt to counter the On the road to the June 24 elections, worries of the Turkish public, Er- the People’s Alliance developed a doğan and Bahçeli met in the middle discourse that defended the con- in order to satisfy the expectations of crete steps taken to satisfy national society. By placing unity and brother/ security concerns and directed to sisterhood at the forefront, Erdoğan the more active fight against terror- and Bahçeli developed a political dis- ism that they intended to pursue in course emphasizing national unity. In the future in order to solve terrorism this direction, they underlined native for once and for all. For example, in and national politics. Both leaders its election manifesto, the AK Party argued that Turkey needed to move emphasized preventive intervention onto a different level in terms of its and put at its center a security pro- fight against terrorism, especially af- vision that reached out to all citizens. ter July 15. With this, the Erdoğan Thus, a pro-active encounter against Administration developed a new all terrorist organizations, especially security concept. According to this FETÖ, the PKK and ISIS, was envis- security concept, the main factor in aged. In addition to this, other plans the fight against terrorism is to elim- had also been developed with regard

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to the fight against terrorism. These and bureaucratic rationality, these include the more productive use of deep-rooted problems will be solved mass media in order to prevent the with the help of strong leadership and propaganda of terrorist organizations line ministries. The newly established and the increase of public diplomacy state structure will enlarge the capac- in order to prevent their activities ity for responsiveness of state insti- abroad.4 tutions and thus bureaucratic inertia will be prevented from decreasing the The second main agenda item for the efficiency in state bodies. People’s Alliance was the defense of the presidential governance system. The third level of the election strat- Both leaders and deputies of the AK egy of the People’s Alliance is com- Party and the MHP listed one-by- posed of the concrete promises that one the advantages and benefits they were made. In this context, the AK believed that the presidential system Party, which is the main partner of will bring for Turkey. They empha- the People’s Alliance, made reference sized that this government system to its major projects that it conducted will create a true balance-control in the past and assured the electorate mechanism between the legislature, that in the upcoming period, not only executive and judiciary. At the same will they be pursuing major projects time, it was emphasized that this sys- such as the Eurasia Tunnel, Osman- tem will prevent the legislature, exec- gazi Bridge, Yavuz Selim Bridge and utive and the judiciary from overlap- Ovit Tunnel, but that they will also be ping with each other’s roles and that pursuing micro projects that will af- each will operate within their own fect the daily lives of the people. field. The Nation Alliance’s Election Strategy Another point made was that the new The Nation Alliance, made up of the government system will break the CHP, İyi Party, Democrat Party and bureaucratic oligarchy and that this Felicity Party, and covertly supported will speed up the decision making by the HDP, was made up of political processes. In addition to this, it was parties that have very different ideo- also emphasized that with the pres- logical roots. The main foundation of idential system, the idea of strong this alliance was being anti-Erdoğan. political leadership and political sta- Before anything, the Nation Alliance bility will become institutionalized. pursued an election strategy on the It was also underlined that with the basis of putting an end to Erdoğan’s new system, long-term plans and rule and going back to a parliamen- strategies can be established in the tary system. country and that the new system will play an important role in overcoming Within this framework, the parties the middle income trap in the econ- that formed the Nation Alliance omy. Because the presidential system placed themselves literally opposite foresees accelerated decision making to the foundation thesis of the Peo-

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fight against FETÖ, but also the fight While these actors, prior to the against the PKK. Whilst the Turkish government was conducting opera- April 16 referendum, stated tions against PKK/PYD headquarters that the parliament would in Qandil, the CHP deputies made lose its importance under announcements claiming that there were no PKK camps left in the area the new presidential system, and that the government was using and although they tried to the Qandil operations as an election tool.7 This approach displayed consolidate their electorate by the Nation Alliance failed to find around this belief, these any room within a large segment of very same actors raced for a society, and gave the image that the Nation Alliance remained quiet with parliamentary majority during regards to Turkey’s most important the June 24 elections issue; the fight against terrorism.

In addition to the fight against terrorism, another issue on the Nation ple’s Alliance, and pursued propa- Alliance’s agenda during the election ganda activities in response to the process was the new presidential sys- announcements made by the Peo- tem. However, rather than sharing ple’s Alliance. Within this aspect, with the electorate what kind of ad- the Nation Alliance tried to elimi- ministration they were going to put nate the national security discourse in place under the new system, the pursued by the People’s Alliance. Nation Alliance gave the message In fact, the opposition parties went that if they were to be successful, they so far as to claim that after July 15, will turn back to the old system. The 2016, Erdoğan himself has been im- issue that’s ironic here is the very fact plementing a military coup. The that the parties within the Nation Al- partners within the Nation Alliance liance were actually participating in severely criticized the state of emer- elections under a system that they op- gency, which was declared for secu- posed. Without a doubt, this caused rity reasons and military operations sincere discrepancy within the Na- conducted in the fight against terror- tion Alliance. Although the Nation ism.5 However, the Nation Alliance’s Alliance instructed a “No” camp prior criticism of the state of emergency to the April 16 referendum it failed to lost its ground as President Erdoğan keep this bloc together with regard to announced immediately after the the June 24 elections. The reason for elections, that the state of emergency this failure was the lack of ideologi- would be abolished.6 cal cohesiveness amongst members of this alliance and their inability to The partners within the Nation Al- find a common ground except unit- liance not only problematized the ing against President Erdoğan.

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President Erdoğan presents the members Prior to the June 24 elections, the actors raced for a parliamentary ma- of his new most important discrepancy within jority during the June 24 elections. cabinet at the the Nation Alliance was the fact that These actors appealed to their voters presidential it was more difficult to use their an- by stating that the only way of top- complex in Ankara on July 9, ti-Erdoğan capital in comparison to pling Erdoğan was to obtain a ma- 2018. July 15, 2016. This is because after the jority in the Parliament. By doing so, RAŞİT AYDOĞAN / failed July 15 coup attempt, anti-Er- parties within the Nation Alliance AA Photo doğanism drew intense reactions tacitly accepted that by keeping its within society. This nevertheless ex- legislative role, the Parliament can panded the sphere of Erdoğan’s poli- limit the executive and can act as a tics. For this reason, the Nation Alli- watchdog. ance was not able to transform their anti-Erdoğanism –their real reason While all components of the Nation for existence– into a successful polit- Alliance were getting ready for the ical rhetoric. June 24 elections, they were also at the same time experiencing serious The political actors that form the struggles for power within their own Nation Alliance are also those that parties. This can especially be re- formed the “No” block prior to the lated to the CHP as the struggle for April 16 referendum. While these ac- power between the party’s presiden- tors, prior to the April 16 referendum, tial candidate, Muharrem İnce, and stated that the parliament would lose the party’s leader, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu its importance under the new pres- affected the CHP’s presidential and idential system, and although they parliamentary election strategies and tried to consolidate their electorate reflected the fact that currently in- around this belief, these very same tra-party politics is much more im-

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portant for the CHP than national coming future this collaboration is politics. The post-election process going to be an inseparable aspect of shows that the long-lasting competi- Turkish politics. tion for the chairmanship of the CHP may cause a serious crisis for the fu- In these elections, as a whole and ture of the party. individually, all political parties that formed the Nation Alliance experi- In addition to these discrepancies, an enced a failure and were unsuccess- important tool utilized by the Nation ful. The CHP’s vote decreased and Alliance was the populist promises the HDP lost around 15 percent of that it made. In this regard, the alli- its traditional vote in the eastern re- ance tried to reach out to the elector- gion of Turkey. The İyi Party failed ate by promising things such as the to obtain the votes that it hoped it return of Syrian refugees to their own would from the MHP and the Felic- country, the increase of the minimum ity Party, by only receiving 1.4 per- wage, the abolition of health fees and cent of the votes, failed to display any an extra cash bonus to be given to prominence. public workers. Besides, while the election promises made by the Peo- Although CHP’s presidential can- ple’s Alliance were at a total of 30 bil- didate Muharrem İnce received 8 lion Turkish Liras, those made by the percent more of the votes than his Nation Alliance came to 400 billion party, he still remained far behind Turkish Liras –yet no information or Erdoğan and therefore was defeated. data was given to the electorate as to It can be foreseen that in a political the source of this funding. atmosphere where the CHP only obtained 22.6 percent while it’s presidential candidate İnce received 30.6 Analyzing June 24 Elections percent of the vote, the party will Results experience an intense intra-party rivalry. Hence, immediately after the When the ballot boxes were opened elections, Kılıçdaroğlu stated that and the results were being announced “İnce failed to obtain the success ex- on the night of June 24, the situation pected” and that “there is no room for in Turkish politics was telling us this seat-lovers in this party.” İnce on the fact: The AK Party, under the lead- other hand underlined how he broke ership of Erdoğan and the People’s the 30 percent threshold, one which Alliance had won the elections, and his party had failed to reach in 41 that Erdoğan showed us once again years. Soon after this statement, İnce that he was a significant component asked Kılıçdaroğlu to name him the of the socio-political truth in Turkey. new CHP chairman but his demand It can also be stated that with these was rejected. This made it clear that elections, the electorate perceived the he was going to make a challenge People’s Alliance as a successful and for the party leadership. There is no viable alliance, and that in the up- doubt that this party leadership ri-

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valry within the CHP is going to become the most important dynamics Turkey needs a strong political of Turkish politics in the post-June 24 period. leadership, political stability and an assertive political When analyzing the election results, vision to make successful another important issue that ought to be underlined is the de facto CHP- reforms HDP alliance. In order to ensure that the HDP did not stay below the 10 percent threshold, which would have all segments of society and pursue prevented it from entering Parlia- a more selective understanding of ment, the CHP supported the HDP opposition. Another reality that the in its strong areas. While in public June 24 elections reflected is that the surveys the HDP’s vote was hovering negative and reactionary politics pur- around 8 percent, the party received sued by the opposition parties, which 11.7 percent of the vote and entered eventually led to them reaching an Parliament. While this alliance was agreement with terrorist groups on hidden from the traditionalist Ke- the basis of anti-Erdoğanism, did not malist wing of the CHP, the given re- find a positive response in society. sult has led to controversy within the party. This situation will mean a nat- The AK Party continues to be the most ural rise of conflict within the CHP. important actor in Turkish politics, a message given by the electorate in the One other political reality the June June 24 elections. Nonetheless, the 24 election results put forward is AK Party failed to reach its objective this: even if anti-Erdoğanism creates of an absolute majority in Parliament a synergetic and emotional atmo- and it received 10 percent less votes sphere, it is not enough to obtain any than President Erdoğan and its own concrete political achievements. The vote in comparison to the November opposition parties have continued 1, 2015, elections, decreased by 7 per- to display a hard attitude within the cent. This result reflects the fact that last 5 years, which perceives Erdoğan approximately 20 percent of the AK not as an opponent or competitor, Party electorate differentiate between but as an enemy, and this has inevi- the AK Party and Erdoğan and that tably consolidated the electorate that the AK Party and its parliamentary supports Erdoğan. The opposition in candidates do not represent Erdoğan’s Turkey does nothing but concentrate vision enough. In this respect, we can on anti-Erdoğan policies and this assume that there will be a serious guarantees their defeat. The June 24 change in the AK Party administra- elections reflected that rather than tion under Erdoğan’s coordination putting forward an essentialist an- and that this will be another develop- ti-Erdoğan view, the opposition needs ment in the post-election period. The to display micro policies that address most important issue that needs to be

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highlighted here is the fact that even system. The government announced when in power, the most important new emergency decree laws to reg- feature of Erdoğan’s politics is that it ulate state institutions and increase can successfully renew itself. the efficiency of state bodies. All reg- ulations up until now are compati- ble with the essential characteristics Conclusion of the presidential system and it is certain that they will accelerate the The June 24 elections can be seen transformation in Turkish bureau- as a cornerstone in Turkish politics. cracy. For this reason, before any- Leaving behind the political instabil- thing, Turkey needs a strong political ity that has characterized Turkey over leadership, political stability and an many decades, Turkey has moved assertive political vision to make suc- forward towards a better and more cessful reforms. secure future. It is important to un- derline the fact that the transition from a parliamentarian system to a Endnotes presidential one is very complicated, 1. “Turkey’s Ruling Party Claims Win,” CNN, (July however, the Turkish people once 22, 2018), retrieved from http://edition.cnn. com/2007/WORLD/europe/07/22/turkey.elec- more showed their democratic cul- tions/index.html. ture and with their votes a smooth 2. Aynur Ekiz, Mumin Altas and Sinan Uslu, “Yildi- process and transition occurred. rim: People’s Alliance Will Take Turkey to Future,” Anadolu Agency, (May 12, 2018), retrieved from Moreover, during the June 24 elec- https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/yildirim-peoples-alliance-will-take-turkey-to-future/1143242. tions, the Turkish electorate refreshed its trust in Erdoğan and committed 3. Mehmet Zahid Sobacı, “The AK Party-MHP Alliance and Turkey’s Presidential System,” The Turkey’s future into the hands of the New Turkey, (February 16, 2018), retrieved from Erdoğan-led People’s Alliance. In or- https://thenewturkey.org/the-ak-party-mhp-alli- der to be able to successfully predict ance-and-turkeys-presidential-system/. the future of Turkish politics, it is vital 4. Yunus Paksoy, “AK Party’s Election Declara- tion Pledges Greener, Eco-friendly Turkey,” Daily to correctly analyze Erdoğan’s vision. Sabah, (May 24, 2018), retrieved from https:// For Erdoğan, Turkey’s most import- www.dailysabah.com/elections/2018/05/24/ ant issue is to remain on its own feet ak-partys-election-declaration-pledges-green- in a region where there is increasing er-eco-friendly-turkey. instability, and to grow and develop 5. “Turkey Opposition Chief Accuses Erdogan of ‘Second Coup’ with Purge,” Arab News, (June 16, by taking advantage of opportunities 2018), retrieved from http://www.arabnews.com/ that arise. Additionally, locality and node/1116096/world. nationality will be the core values in 6. After the elections, it was publicly announced the future of Turkey’s democracy. that the state of emergency would be lifted on July 18, 2018. In the post-election period, Turkish 7. “Afrin’e Girmeyin Diyen Kılıçdaroğlu Kandil Operasyonuna Karşı Çıktı,” Star, (June 21, 2018), bureaucratic structure is witnessing a retrieved from http://www.star.com.tr/politika/ major transformation in accordance afrine-girmeyin-diyen-kilicdaroglu-kandil-opera- with the requirements of the new syonuna-karsi-cikti-haber-1356086/.

102 Insight Turkey LAYING THE CORNERSTONE FOR A NEW TURKEY: THE JUNE 24 ELECTIONS

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2018 Summer 103