Admit Defeat!'
In the aftermath of the local elections, the conflict with the parallel structure needs to be addressed in a setting where democratic freedom is not restricted. This is also a requirement of the AK Party's own contributions to the consolidation of Turkish democracy.
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Turkey's 2014 Local Elections
While no big surprises are expected from the local elections, the perception of success or failure of the ruling party will have an impact on its calculations with respect to the presidential election and the parliamentary election in 2015.
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The opposition parties neither signal a structural and managerial change in their parties nor offer a different vision for the future in the event they lose the March 30 elections.
One of the reasons why political jargon is framed as if it were a general election is because of the Dec. 17 operation that caused local elections to be pushed out of its normal process.
SETA Political Researcher Galip Dalay said that there is no big drop of support for Erdoğan and his party due to the tension.
In other words, extra-parliamentary forces working against the government have effectively resulted in Erdoğan's association with democracy, the ballot box and popular will.
Elections and the Rise of Religious Discourse
What is more important is that if the struggling actors switch to embracing and democratic statements, it is possible they will have already lost credibility in the eyes of the public.
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Turkish Economy: Taking Stock of the Last Decade
Turkey successful combination of fiscal discipline and welfare policies yielded desired results. The next step forward requires more R&D spending
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The Justice and Development Party (AK Party), with the elections on March 30, will have run in a total of eight elections since its founding. If the polls and the rallies are any indication, it seems that AK Party will prevail once again.
Among observers of the historical trajectory of global capitalism, it is conventional wisdom that successful "developmental alliances" require common visions and strategic partnerships between key state agencies and large-scale business interests.
The Dec. 17 operation transformed the local elections into a vote of confidence for the AK Party government. March 30 is no longer about municipalities and town councils but Mr. Erdoğan's political future
Identifying the Dec. 17 operation as an attack against the AK Party government by the Gülen Movement, conservative voters are likely to rally behind the Turkish prime minister in upcoming local elections. Consequently, the controversy might increase the ruling party's popularity among its core constituencies
