Ankara (AsiaNews/Agencies) – “We will continue to work with determination to achieve our reforms and our European Union goal”: with these words the outgoing premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan greeted his part’s overwhelming victory in weekend election, underlining that they intend to pursue the goal of “national unity” and of respect for the “democracy and secular nature” of the State.
With 99%of votes counted, Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) gained a 47% majority – up 13% from 2002 – for a total of 341 of 550 parliament seats. The two main opposition parties succeeded. Two opposition parties won the 10% share needed to guarantee seats in parliament: the secularist Republican People's Party (CHP) polled 20%, and the right-wing Nationalist Action Party (MHP) 14%. Estimates said the CHP would win up to 112 seats and the MHP some 70 seats, with up to 27 going to independent candidates, including pro-Kurdish politicians.
Speaking to supporters the premier described the AKP victory as a “triumph of democracy” in the country. He promised to "press ahead with reforms and the economic development” in view of the EU goal: Ankara does not hide behind the fact that EU entry is a primary objective. He has confirmed that he will also “press ahead with the fight” against Kurdish rebels in the east of the country.
Among the duties of the new parliament is the election of the next President: in fact it was the lack of consensus over a successor to Ahmet Necdet Sezer, which forced Turkey to an early vote.