Turkey: Islamic-based Justice and Development party wins general election, November 2002

The Islamic based Justice and Development (AK Party) party claimed an overwhelming victory in Turkey's parliamentary elections on 3 November 2002, signaling the end to 15 years of coalition government in the country.

The party, which was only formed last year by moderate members of Turkey's outlawed pro-Islamic Virtue Party, claimed 34.2% of the vote with the Republican People's Party (CHP Party) coming in second with 19.3%. Since the two parties were the only ones to cross the 10% threshold required to enter parliament the AK Party will extend its majority won in the election to 363 of the 550 seats in parliament - only four seats short of the two-thirds needed to change the constitution. The CHP Party will have 178 seats and independents will claim the final 9 seats available.

The election was called eighteen months early after the coalition government collapsed due to bitter in-fighting and Bulent Ecevit's prolonged illness. The outgoing Prime Minister's Democratic Left Party won only 1.2% of the vote in November's election.

The Justice and Development Party promotes itself as a modern, conservative, secular party - all of which is embedded in its name AK - meaning white, or pure. However, some Turks fear that it continues to nurture a pro-Islamic agenda and have suggested that it might find itself in conflict with other state institutions, such as the army. The party is already facing its first test - who should be the new Prime Minister? Its leader, the former mayor of Istanbul, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is banned from holding political office because of a 1998 conviction for Islamist sedition and he is also facing legal action by the state prosecutor, which could, on the one hand, force him to step down from the party leadership and, on the other hand, could result in the closure of the AKP altogether.

Although the victory of the AK Party has ushered in a new era in Turkish politics there are already doubts about the possible long term success of the new leadership. Many question whether it will be able to take on the challenges posed by a troubled economy, Turkey's EU accession, and a possible role in a USstrike against Iraq when it is still in its infancy.

The location of Turkey on Iraq's eastern borders means that the country would have an important role to play if there was to be a US or UN led strike against Iraq but almost all Turks oppose conflict with the country's big eastern neighbour and the election of a party with strong Islamic roots is likely to provoke further questions in the West about what part Turkey may play. However Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated that he would support military backing against Iraq if it had UN approval.

The AK's leader real priority, he claims, is strengthening the country's ties with the European Union as Ankara continues to press Brussels for a start date for accession negotiations. Following the election, Erdogan said that he would embark on a tour of European countries within the next week, beginning with Greece, traditionally Turkey's long standing enemy although the frosty relations may be thawing. The Greek foreign minister Costas Simitis, was the first foreign leader to congratulate Mr Erdogan on his party's victory and Greece has emerged as Turkey's biggest backer in its efforts to get an accession timetable secured before the end of the year. If the new Turkish government can reach an agreement with Athens on the future of a divided Cyprus then the EU might look more favourably on Turkey's application for membership. For the moment, the European Commission have reiterated their call for more reforms in Turkey before a date will be set. In a press statement issued after the election result, the European Commission said:

'The Commission takes note of the outcome of the democratic elections that took place in Turkey and is ready to co-operate with the new government. It also takes note that the two parties that will be represented in the Grand National Assembly have clearly indicated that they want to pursue a pro-European policy. The Commission expects Turkey to confirm its commitments to reforms in order to comply with the EU-accession criteria. As with previous governments in Turkey and in the same way as with all the other candidate countries, the Commission will continue to monitor closely the progress made, with particular attention to action taken in practice'.

EU leaders will discuss the question of when to start accession negotiations at the European Council in Copenhagen on 12-13 December 2002.

Links:
European Commission:
	04.11.02:	Press release: Commission reaction after elections in Turkey [IP/02/1604]
	DG Enlargement: Relations with Turkey
Justice and Development Party (AK Parti):
	Homepage
BBC News Online:
	05.11.02:	Turkish victors set sights on EU
	04.11.02:	Turkey leaps into the unknown
	04.11.02:	Q&A: How will the result change Turkey?
	04.11.02:	Turkey's charismatic pro-Islamic leader
	04.11.02:	Turkish Elections: Key parties
European Sources Online: Financial Times:
	05.11.02:	Turkish delight
	05.11.02:	Banned winner looks long-term
	05.11.02:	Turkish victor plans drive for EU accession
Centre for European Policy Studies:
	Turkey's future in Europe: Vision of Turkey's new leading political party [October 2002]
European Sources Online: In Focus:
	Turkey: A future EU member?
	Turkey: Greece calls for EU to set a date to begin accession talks with Turkey, October 2002
European Sources Online: Topic Guides:
	Information on European Countries: Turkey

Helen Bower
Compiled: Tuesday, 5 November 2002

The Islamic based Justice and Development (AK Party) party claimed victory in Turkey's parliamentary elections on 3 November 2002, signaling the end to 15 years of coalition government in the country.