Turkey after the elections

On May 14th, the People´s Alliance headed by the AK Party had gained the majority in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. However, incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was not able to receive more than 50% which would have been necessary to assume the presidency in the first round. Subsequently, and for the first time in the Turkish history, a runoff was announced. This opened a window of opportunity for the opposition as well as for the government block. Both, the People´s Alliance and the National Alliance alike, deviated from the approach of the electoral campaign prior to the first round. Still having secured 49,5% of the votes cast, Erdoğan engaged in more inclusive rhetoric. The opposition and its candidate, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, attempted to mobilize nationalist voters with a campaign directed against migration. Ultimately this did not succeed. At the end of May 28th Erdoğan had won with 52,14%. The following Saturday, Erdoğan took the oath in the Turkish parliament and presented the cabinet of the 28th legislative period. The appointed ministers were widely received as a positive signal towards a pragmatic and not distinctly anti-western government.

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