 sustained its worst defeat since its establishment and make the necessary changes within the party in line with the public’s expectations, the T24 news website reported.){kind=link}
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has vowed to objectively assess the results of the local elections held on March 31 in which his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) sustained its worst defeat since its establishment and make the necessary changes within the party in line with the public’s expectations, the T24 news website reported.
“Before everything else, we have to objectively assess the messages our nation sent at the ballot box. In line with the expectations and criticisms of our nation, we will make the necessary changes within our party and will continue more resolutely on our path,” Erdoğan said on Wednesday, speaking at his parliamentary group meeting for the first time since the elections.
In the local elections, Erdoğan’s AKP came in second for the first time since its establishment in 2002, garnering only 35.4 percent of the vote. The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) emerged as the leading party for the first time in 47 years, securing 37.7 percent of the vote and maintaining control of key cities and securing substantial gains in other regions, previously known as AKP strongholds.
In his speech Erdoğan also ruled out rumors that he was planning a cabinet reshuffle due to his party’s poor performance in the local elections, saying the cabinet has nothing to do with the results of the local elections.
“Our cabinet is hard at work,” he said.
Erdoğan’s talk about a change within his party has led to claims that he may be considering easing the widespread restrictions on free speech in the country and allow the release of political prisoners such as businessman Osman Kavala or Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtaş.
Along with thousands of other political prisoners who were arrested in the aftermath of a coup attempt in July 2016 under the pretext of an anti-coup fight, Kavala and Demirtaş have been held in prison for years despite rulings from the European Court of Human Rights in their favor.
Change in political climate?
What led to such optimism was a column written by pro-government journalist Abdülkadir Selvi in the Hürriyet daily on Wednesday.
Selvi said the political climate in the country should change and that political prisoners like Kavala should be released from prison. He said their spending years in prison does no good to the AKP or Turkey.
According to Selvi, if the AKP returns to its reformist identity and sets its eyes on Turkey’s EU membership again, this will lead to a boom in the Turkish economy.
“This is what made the AKP what it is. The formula is clear: Grow the economy, expand freedoms,” Selvi wrote.
Over the past several years Turkey has been suffering from a deteriorating economy, with high inflation, above 65 percent, and unemployment, as well as a poor human rights record.
President Erdoğan is criticized for mishandling the economy, emptying the state’s coffers and establishing one-man rule in the country where dissent is suppressed and opponents are jailed on politically motivated charges.
Many say the economic deterioration, which makes it difficult for most Turks to even afford their basic needs due to the skyrocketing cost of living, has played a major role in the loss of support for the AKP.