CHP

Soon after polling stations in Turkey closed on Sunday, the state news agency Anadolu Agency, citing 99.9 per cent of counted ballots, announced that 51.3 per cent of voters had backed a constitutional amendment granting additional powers to President Erdogan.

According to Anadolu, the turnout was 85.6 per cent. It said 48.7 per cent of voters had voted against the proposal.

The "story" I came across on social media, the one that I was able to reach with a click, was titled: "CHP spokesperson Böke has been baptized." The CHP is the main opposition party, the Republican People's Party; Böke is Selin Sayek Böke. 

The issue of whether the independent ministers of the interim government will take the ministerial oath sparked debate at parliament on Sept. 3, during a session held to vote on a motion to reauthorize the Turkish military to conduct cross border operations in Iraq and Syria. 

A last-day move of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli put an end to the last hopes for joint action by opposition parties, leading to ?smet Y?lmaz, the incumbent defense minister of the outgoing Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) government, winning the Speaker of Parliament election on July 1.

As scenarios for Turkey?s next coalition government fly around, the political parties are also in a process to assess the results of the June 7 election and working on strategies for the future.

If 10 years ago we were told that a significant number from the secular part of society will be relying on what they perceive to be the political wing of a separatist, terrorist Kurdish organization to secure democracy in Turkey, few would have believed it.

What kind of messages should we deduce from the main opposition Republican People?s Party?s (CHP) recent election primaries?

The essential message should be this: Primaries increase the enthusiasm and feeling of belonging to the party?s constituency, increasing the intensity of the will of the people.

We will eat healthy and exercise more. We will read more and watch TV less. So should be our resolutions for 2015, right? But that would be too mundane and easy after all. We as a proud nation of great heritage should do more.

Turkey and its government are under siege of a massive smear campaign that began right after the Dec. 14 operation, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said, vowing they will take necessary measures to counter such attacks through public diplomacy.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and other officials have harshly criticized Turkey over its move to arrest a number of people working for leading media outlets.