Turkey's ruling Islamist party dominates national elections, regains majority in parliament

Turkey&#039;s ruling AKP party wins back a majority of parliament — (Image credit: Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images)

On Sunday, Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) regained the governing majority it lost in June elections, taking about 49.3 percent of the vote in national elections for an estimated 316 seats in Turkey's 550-seat parliament. Polls had suggested the Islamist AKP would win 40-43 percent, in line with the share it earned in June. The secular Republican People's Party (CHP) won 25.4 percent, for 134 seats, while the main Kurdish party, the People's Democratic Party (HDP), got 59 seats, a loss of 21. The AKP's gains came mainly at the expense of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), now down to 41 seats.

The AKP's surprisingly large victory was a big boost for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the dominant figure in Turkish politics, and his prime minister, AKP leader Ahmet Davutoglu. Davutoglu declared victory, appealed for calm and peace after months of turmoil and violence, and urged parliament to "form a new civilian national constitution," a move Erdogan favors to turn his largely ceremonial post into a U.S.-style executive presidency. The AKP fell 14 seats short of being able to call a referendum on a new constitution and some 60 seats shy of being able to push through a new constitution without a referendum.

Analysts say the AKP won back its governing majority by promising stability and striking a nationalist tone, while critics pointed to the pre-election crackdown on dissent and opposition media outlets. The party's big win could spur the government to restart stalled peace talks with Kurdish separatists, says BBC News analyst Mark Lowen, but "there are also fears that the political polarization stoked by President Erdogan could deepen and a clampdown on free speech worsen as the AK Party feels emboldened. The election is over. But turbulent times lie ahead." For more, watch the Reuters report below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.