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

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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 cam- paign 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. 90 Insight Turkey LAYING THE CORNERSTONE FOR A NEW TURKEY: THE JUNE 24 ELECTIONS 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 2018 Summer 91 COMMENTARY FAHRETTİN ALTUN 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 92 Insight Turkey LAYING THE CORNERSTONE FOR A NEW TURKEY: THE JUNE 24 ELECTIONS to a presidential system.
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