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Turkey votes in crucial elections

Sunday, 7 June 2015


Turkey is voting in a general election which will determine whether the ruling party can change the constitution.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who first came to power as prime minister in 2003, is seeking a big enough majority to turn Turkey into a presidential republic.
However, his hopes may be scuppered if the pro-Kurdish HDP crosses the 10% threshold and enters parliament.
If the left-wing HDP succeeds in winning seats in parliament for the first time, it would reduce the number of seats won by Mr Erdogan's AKP, thwarting its plans to change the constitution and transfer the prime minister's executive powers to the president.
A strong showing from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the third-placed Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) could even force the AKP into a coalition.
Earlier, explosions at an election rally in Diyarbakir on Friday killed four. Officials said the blasts were caused by improvised bombs.