Turkey wraps up crucial parliamentary election

Polls closed on Sunday afternoon, but preliminary results are not expected to start coming in for some hours. Erdogan himself was not on the ballot. Still, the election was effectively a referendum on whether to endow his office with extraordinary powers that would significantly change Turkey’s democracy and prolong his reign as the country’s most powerful politician.

Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party, the AKP, is expected to win significantly more votes than any opposition <g data-gr-id="38">party</g> but it must win a supermajority of the 550 seats in parliament to change the constitution.

All eyes will be on the results for the main Kurdish party, HDP. If it crosses a 10 percent threshold for entering parliament as a party, that would extinguish AKP’s constitutional plans.

The vote comes amid high tensions after bombings Friday during <g data-gr-id="42">a HDP</g> rally killed 2 people and wounded scores. Today, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said a suspect had been detained in the case, but provided no other details. More than 53 million voters in Turkey and abroad are eligible to choose the deputies to the Grand National Assembly. If the ruling AKP wins a majority of 330 seats, it could call for a national referendum to change the constitution. If the party captures 367 seats, it could vote in a change without a referendum.

After casting his vote, HDP leader Selahattin Demirtas called for peace after what he saw as an “onerous and a troubled campaign.” 

Aside from the constitutional issues, the election could have a major impact on the peace process to end decades of <g data-gr-id="32">insurgency</g> by Kurdish militants in Turkey.

Scuffles between rival party supporters were reported in at least two provinces Sunday, including one in Sanliurfa which injured 15 people.

Erdogan has been Turkey’s dominant politician since his party swept into power in 2002 becoming prime minister in 2003 and leading his party to two overwhelming parliamentary election victories. In a gamble, last year he decided to run for president, banking that his party could later bolster his powers.

Under the current constitution, Erdogan is meant to stay above the political fray as president. But he has been campaigning vociferously, drawing complaints from the opposition that he is ignoring the constitution.