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Snap parliamentary elections kick off in Turkey

01 November 2015 06:01 (UTC +04:00)

The polling opened at 08:00AM Turkey time (09:00AM Baku time).

Some 54 million people in Turkey and 3 million outside the country are registered to vote. Compared to the parliamentary elections of June 7 this year, the number of voters within the country has increased by 310,000 people and that of those voting abroad by 28,000. The voting that had begun on October 10 in Turkey’s diplomatic missions abroad came to an end on October 25. The Supreme Electoral Council has decided to start the polling at 04:00PM in some provinces of the country’s eastern and south-eastern regions. The preliminary results of the polling will be announced at 08:00PM Turkey time (09:00PM Baku time).

Note that, the last parliamentary elections in Turkey took place in June 7. After 13 years of single-party rule, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) won 258 mandates in the June 7 elections, but it was not enough for the party to continue its sole rule.

Public opinion surveys showed the election on November 1 have been built on tactical struggle. Opinions survey conducted over two months revealed that there is no considerable change in the rankings of the four parties that entered the parliament on June 7.