Tag: turkish elections

The European Union should follow very closely the upcoming general elections in Turkey, which are set to be held on 12 June, as well as the political process leading up to them, Onur Öymen, vice-chair of the EU affairs committee in the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

The new Turkish constitution will put the judiciary in the hands of the government ahead of national elections, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), the main opposition force in Turkey, told EurActiv in an exclusive interview.

Turkey's main opposition party CHP has detailed its hostility to the constitutional amendments proposed by the ruling AK party, which will be voted upon in a referendum on 12 September.

Turkey's main opposition CHP party said it was deeply disappointed by the "wrong advice" it said it had received from within the European socialist ranks to which it is affiliated, EurActiv has learned.

The Turkish government avoided early elections yesterday (7 July) when judges approved its proposed constitutional reforms. However, the changes will need to be approved in a referendum, with the main opposition party already campaigning against them. EurActiv Turkey contributed to this article.

The AK Party's victory in the July 2007 parliamentary elections creates an opportunity for both it and the EU to "re-launch" Turkey's accession process, according to an August report from the International Crisis Group.

On 22 July 2007, Turkish voters will renew the 550 members of the Grand National Assembly, the only chamber of Parliament. A Robert Schuman Foundation paper reviews the main issues in the general election - coming four months early following Parliament's failure to elect a successor to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

The current turmoil in Turkey may well be the vital test of its democracy that the EU has long been calling for, states Katinka Barysch – chief economist at the Centre for European Reform (CER). In a new paper, she claims that if Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan succeeds in facing down the generals now, then future coups will become almost impossible.

On 28 November, the Turkish parliament gave majority support to the new government, formed by Abdullah Gul's Justice and Development Party.

The new Turkish Prime Minister, Abdullah Gül, deputy leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), said economic recovery, EU membership and resolving the Cyprus issue would be the main priorities for his government.

On 3 November, more than 40 million Turkish voters went to the polls to elect a new parliament. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) won an absolute majority, followed by the Republican People's Party (CHP).

Turkey has plunged into a fresh government crisis after Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz announced that he could resign from the three-party coalition ahead of early elections on 3 November. Mr Yilmaz stated that Turkey needs an interim government to prepare the early elections and take Turkey to the European Union.

On 3 August, the Turkish parliament abolished the death penalty and granted more rights to the Kurdish minority. The nationalist party leader, Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, announced that he will seek to overturn this legislation by appealing to the constitutional court.

The Turkish Parliament was unable to set a date for early elections, driving Turkey deeper into a political crisis.

The Turkish Parliament was called back from holiday to vote on early elections on 22 July.

Turkey's Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, and the leaders of the other two coalition parties, Devlet Bahceli and Mesut Yilmaz, have agreed to hold early elections on 3 November.

Turkey's Parliament Speaker, Omer Izgi, has recalled the Parliament for an extraordinary session in September to decide on early elections or a vote of no-confidence in the government.

The Turkish government is facing collapse after more key ministers have resigned from the Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's Democratic Left Party.