Turkey election: Press hails Erdogan victory

Turkish press hailed AKP's victory and Erdogan's leadership

The press in Turkey has welcomed the success of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) in this weekend's general election.

Mr Erdogan's party won about 50% of the vote, which was enough to secure him a third term in office, but not sufficient to enable his party to make changes to the constitution.

The main opposition secular Republican People's Party (CHP), which follows the ideology of Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, polled about a quarter of the votes - its best result in more than 30 years. But the party was still seen by some newspapers as the main election loser. The vote also saw a significant rise in MPs representing the Kurdish minority.

Turkish newspapers were generally supportive of the AKP's victory, hailing Prime Minister Erdogan's leadership despite his ultimate failure to win a so-called "super-majority", with some tipping him as a future president.

Ismail Kucukkaya in centre-right Aksam

"And he did it. He received the vote of one of every two people. His target now is to become the president who is to be elected by the people... He won one of the greatest election victories in our political history."

Taha Akyol in centrist Milliyet

"A government in Turkey wins the elections for the third time in a row by increasing its vote in every election it enters. This is a first... As the BBC says, Erdogan became the most successful leader in the democratic history of Turkey."

Semih Idiz in centrist Milliyet

"As they were held at a time when there is a struggle for democracy in the region, these elections provide a very important example and lesson for the people of the region as to how free elections are held."

Ismet Berkan in centre-right Hurriyet

"Let us note the victory of the AK Party, but let us also see another victor in these elections. And that victor is the (pro-Kurdish) Peace and Democracy Party ... This group of 36 people means a very important turning point regarding the Kurdish issue."

Okan Muderrisoglu in centre-right Sabah

"This result leaves Erdogan unrivalled in the presidential elections that are to be held in the near future. However, the AK Party has also been asked to lead the discussions about a 'New Constitution' by seeking ultimate consensus with other parties."

Murat Yetkin in centre-left Radikal

"Erdogan missed out on the 330 seats required to put the draft constitution to the referendum on his own. It is extremely ironic, but Erdogan's 10% electoral threshold weapon has backfired in such a way that the AK Party has increased its votes, but the number of its seats in parliament have decreased."

Yusuf Ziya Comert in liberal, pro-Islamic Yeni Safak

"Turkey has given the policies of the AK Party a vote of confidence in a very clear and decisive way that leaves no room for any discussions. Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the real master of Turkish politics ... The 'loser of the elections' label mostly suits the CHP."

Mumtaz'er Turkone in moderate, pro-Islamic Zaman

"Is the disappointment faced by the CHP a surprise? The CHP could not find what it was looking for with its new leader."

Can Atakli in centrist Vatan

"The most important problem that we will face inside Turkey will be about the 'promised' constitution. The AKP could not win the 330 seats needed to write a constitution on its own, but got very close to that number. This is why the work for a new constitution will be done with the outside support of the BDP or support to be given by the CHP and MHP."

Cuneyt Arcayurek in secular, Kemalist newspaper Cumhuriyet

"Our only consolation is that the AKP could not manage 367 MPs and did not get the chance to write a new constitution without taking it to a referendum ... However, the AKP is again in majority in parliament. Recep Tayyip Erdogan will again form the government. He will again play with every institution as he wishes, including the judiciary and military."

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