Turkish Elections of June 12, 2011: Now What?
Results from the June 12 election indicate that Turkey maintained a moderate pluralist party system in structure in the parliament, consisting of the same four parties that were previously serving. But it looks as if Turkey is gearing up to become another example of predominant party system soon. Short of making a constitution that is considered as politically, legally, and morally binding for the political elites of Turkey, it will be difficult to assume that Turkish democracy is fully consolidated. The stage seems to be set for a start of negotiations for a civilian-made democratic constitution in Turkey. The governing AKP needs the support of at least five more deputies from other parliamentary groups. The Turkish political elites are good at confronting and fighting each other, but they seem not to be as capable or intent upon working together as government and opposition. The summer months may produce a period of cooling off for the political elites and for the Republican People’s Party and Nationalist Action Party to settle their intra-party accounts before October.