Local elections to seal Erdoğan’s fate

Local elections in Turkey on the 30 March 2014 were seen as an important test for the country’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, ahead of the first directly-elected presidential election in August 2014.

The Turkish news service Hürriyet Daily News and other news sources reported on the 31 March 2014 that the ruling AKP claimed a triumph in the local polls around Turkey. The main opposition CHP kept its stronghold of the western province of İzmir, while also collecting a plurality of the votes in the Thrace and western Aegean regions. The MHP took the lead in Turkey’s two eastern and southern provinces, which had belonged to other parties since the 2009 local elections.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan declared victory and said he would 'enter the lair' of enemies, who had leaked state secrets and accused him of corruption, saying 'they will pay for this'.

Deutsche Welle and other media sources reported on the 1 April 2013 that Turkish riot police had fired water cannon at opposition protesters demonstrating against local election results.

Deutsche Welle, 27.03.14: Local elections to determine Erdogan's future http://dw.de/p/1BWkZ

The Guardian, 27.03.14: Turkish PM divides nation and neighbourhoods ahead of local elections http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/27/turkish-pm-erdogan-divides-nation-local-elections

ESO: Background information: Turkey's Twitter ban meets immediate EU criticism http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkeys-twitter-ban-meets-immediate-eu-criticism/

ESO: Background information: Turkey moves to block YouTube http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkey-moves-to-block-youtube/

ESO: Background information: Boy's death spurs anti-Erdogan feeling in EU parliament http://www.europeansources.info/record/boys-death-spurs-anti-erdogan-feeling-in-eu-parliament/

BBC News, 31.03.14: Turkey PM Erdogan claims election victory http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26807067

Wikipedia: Turkish local elections, 2014 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_local_elections,_2014

Blog: James in Turkey: Tag: Turkey's 2014 local election http://www.jamesinturkey.com/category/local-election-2014/

EurActiv, 31.03.14: PM Erdogan claims victory in Turkey's local elections http://www.euractiv.com/sections/enlargement/pm-erdogan-claims-victory-turkeys-local-elections-301234

Hürriyet Daily News: Tag: Local elections special coverage by Hürriyet Daily News http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/local-elections-special-coverage-by-hurriyet-daily-news-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=64280&NewsCatID=338

France24, 31.03.14: Turkey's Erdogan declares victory in local elections http://www.france24.com/en/20140330-turkey-erdogan-lead-local-polls-election/

Deutsche Welle, 30.03.14: Eight deaths during local elections in Turkey http://dw.de/p/1BYWq

The Guardian, 31.03.14: Erdogan declares victory in Turkey election and turns on opposition http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/31/erodgan-victory-turkey-elections

The New York Times, 30.03.14: Not on Ballot, Turkey’s Premier Still Gets Push From Party in Local Elections http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/31/world/europe/not-on-ballot-turkeys-premier-still-gets-push-from-party-in-local-elections.html

Deutsche Welle, 31.03.14: Turkish premier Erdogan declares victory for AKP in local polls http://dw.de/p/1BYkW

Euronews, 30.03.14: Turkey goes to the polls in local and mayoral elections http://www.euronews.com/2014/03/30/turkey-goes-to-the-polls-in-local-and-mayoral-elections/

Star, 31.03.14: Democracy wins in Turkey's local elections (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE140981-Democracy-wins-in-Turkey-s-local-elections

ESO: Background information: Turkey's Fethullah Gulen denies corruption probe links http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkeys-fethullah-gulen-denies-corruption-probe-links/

ESO: Background information: Calls for Turkey PM Recip Tayyip Erdogan to resign in leaked tape scandal http://www.europeansources.info/record/calls-for-turkey-pm-recip-tayyip-erdogan-to-resign-in-leaked-tape-scandal/

Le Monde, 30.03.14: Erdoğan ruining his country (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE140974-Erdo-an-ruining-his-country

The Guardian, 31.03.14: Erdogan's election victory could be good news for Turkish democracy http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/31/erdogan-election-victory-turkish-democracy

Deutsche Welle, 31.03.14: The Erdogan phenomenon and a desperate opposition http://dw.de/p/1BZ3h

Euronews, 01.04.14: Turkey: Erdogan enjoys victory but local polls outcome is questioned by critics http://www.euronews.com/2014/04/01/turkey-erdogan-enjoys-victory-but-local-polls-outcome-is-questioned-by-critics/

Deutsche Welle, 01.04.14: Turkish riot police break up post-election protest in Ankara http://dw.de/p/1BZnr

The Guardian, 01.04.14: Erdogan won the elections, but will he convince the Turkish people? http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/01/erdogan-won-turkish-election-polarised-nation

Euronews, 01.04.14: Opposition calls for votes to be recounted in Turkish election http://www.euronews.com/2014/04/01/opposition-calls-for-votes-to-be-recounted-in-turkish-election/

Blog: Project Syndicate, 10.04.14: Turkey’s Electoral Dictatorship http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/timur-kuran-warns-that-recent-local-elections-will-reinforce-recep-tayyip-erdo-an-s-authoritarian-turn

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