Erdogan defeat, Left victory, in Turkish elections

This video says about itself:

7 June 2015

As Turks head to the poll for their country’s parliamentary elections on the 7th of June, Middle East Eye’s reporter in Turkey spoke to supporters of the left-wing, pro-Kurdish People’s Democracy Party about why they are lending their support to the party and its figurehead Selahattin Demirtas.

From Middle East Eye:

Turkish crossroads: Coalition government or a repeat vote?

#TurkeyChooses

As a ruling coalition with or without AKP appears unlikely and so is a minority government, a repeat vote may take place in Turkey

Mamoon Alabbasi

Monday 8 June 2015 10:21 BST

Last update:
Monday 8 June 2015 10:49 BST

The loss of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of its parliamentary majority in Sunday’s legislative elections has opened the door for the formation of a coalition government or the prospect of a new election in 45 days.

This is the first time that the AKP has not secured a majority in parliament since 2002, with the party winning 41 percent of the vote, which translates to 258 seats in the 550-seat parliament.

The Republican People’s Party (CHP) won 25 percent of the vote and 132 seats, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) secured 16.5 percent and 80 seats with the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party HDP boasting a surprise 13 percent and securing 80 seats. The AKP needed to secure 276 seats in order for it to govern alone, meaning that it fell short by 22 seats and would need to find a coalition partner if it wants to govern.

AKP deputy and head of the parliamentary constitution commission Burhan Kuzu has now said that snap elections [are] “inevitable”. “No government will emerge from this scenario. Not even a coalition … early elections look inevitable,” he told BBC Turkey.

The official results were based on 99.9 percent of with a turnout of 86 percent, down 1 percent from the 2011 vote.

The problem, however, is that thus far none of the AKP’s rivals in parliament appear to be willing to enter into a coalition with the former government.

Devlet Bahceli, the leader of MHP, has ruled out entering a coalition with the AKP. “MHP is ready to be a main opposition party in a possible AKP-CHP-HDP coalition,” he told reporters on Sunday.

HDP leader Selahattin Demirtas also told supporters in Istanbul that his party would be a “strong and honest opposition” to the AKP, ruling out being in a government coalition. “We will not form any coalition [government], whether inside or outside, with the AK party,” he said.

The CHP, which came second, has likewise been the main opposition to the AKP’s 13 year rule, and are seen as the least likely coalition partners for the AKP.

An AKP-free coalition also seems unlikely given the animosity between the pro-Kurdish HDP and the nationalist MHP.

There is the possibility of a short-lived AKP minority government, which would be forced to call for another election sooner or later with most analysis deeming any such deal highly unstable due to the level of animosity seen during the election campaign.

Some voters said they had resorted to tactical voting, instead of voting for the parties they traditionally support, in order to deny giving AKP the majority it needed to form a government.

If a coalition government – with AKP or without – is not formed within 45 days then President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may be forced to call for new elections.

More Turkish female MPs enter parliament than ever before. Turkey’s 25th parliamentary election sees rise in number of women deputies, increasing from 79 in 2011 to 96 in 2015: here.

HDP supporters celebrate in The Hague, photo Ardy Stemerding, NOS