Turkey: Presidential Elections, 2014. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Talukdar, Indrani
• Is Part Of: Contemporary review of the Middle East. Volume 2:Number 4(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 339
• Page End: 365
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Turkey -- Erdoğan -- presidential elections -- AKP -- democratization -- Islamism; Middle East -- Periodicals; 956.005
• DOI: 10.1177/2347798915610979
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2347-7989

Abstract

The first direct presidential election in Turkey is remarkable because of the thin margin with which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was elected against the expectations of a massive support. It marks beginning of a new era in Turkish politics indicating widespread discontentment and fear regarding the policies of the Justice and Development Party (AKP). On the other hand, the ruling party has retained its support among conservatives, business, and middle classes, especially in Anatolia region. However, the rise of new political forces in the 2015 general elections that failed to give a clear majority to any group should force the AKP to rethink over its policies, particularly the rising concern of authoritarian behavior and appropriation of power. Further, concerns over crackdown of media and dissent and growing instances of violation of human rights may lead to a backlash from the electorate. The AKP government has also come in from criticism for its handling of the Syrian crisis and its action against Syrian Kurds may turn the fragile peace achieved with its own Kurdish population.