Special to WorldTribune.com
In the lead-up to the June 7 parliamentary elections in Turkey, citizens could hardly turn on a television without seeing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan campaigning heavily for the Justice and Development Party (AKP).
After the Islamist party’s stunning defeat on Sunday, however, Erdogan has suddenly slipped into the shadows. He has not been seen on TV for over 24 hours.
Overjoyed anti-AKP Turks went so far as to create an online ticker counting the number of hours Erdogan has been absent from their TV screens.
On June 8, Erdogan did issue a response to the election – in writing.
“I believe that the current situation, which did not permit any party to form a government on its own, will be evaluated healthily and realistically by all parties that have taken part in the race,” Erdogan wrote, adding that the result and record voter turnout (86 percent) demonstrated Turkey’s “determination for democracy and for reflecting its will at the ballot box.”
The AKP lost its 13-year majority amid a number of corruption scandals and Erdogan’s attempts to grant himself more power by altering the constitution. Erdogan’s party received just over 40 percent of the vote (258 seats), making it the single-largest party but no longer holding an overall majority.
The Kurdish HDP party had a solid showing, passing the 10 percent threshold and securing 80 seats.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of the AKP has 45 days to form a coalition government, but the other parties are holding out. The HDP has already ruled out entering any coalition with the AKP.
Erdogan lowers media profile after electoral defeat of AKP agenda added by World Tribune on
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