Elections in Turkey

Considering and preparing a new election law is useful and necessary, Turkey's justice minister said on June 8. 

Abdulhamit Gül evaluated the agenda in an appearance on journalist Cüneyt Özdemir's YouTube channel.

Three former opposition party lawmakers were sent to prison last Friday, a day after parliament revoked their seats.

The dismissal of three opposition lawmakers, one from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and two from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), from parliament has pushed these two parties to mull new strategies in responding to the ruling party's moves.

The Turkish Parliament is set to re-convene on June 2 after nearly a 45-day break with a busy agenda, as the country has lifted many of the restrictions imposed in a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

A two-day curfew in 15 provinces in Turkey begun at midnight on May 29 as part of measures to stem the spread of COVID-19.

The curfew will effect Ankara, Istanbul, İzmir, Balıkesir, Bursa, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Konya, Manisa, Sakarya, Samsun, Van and Zonguldak.

The leader of the main opposition party has reiterated that his party is ready for snap elections if the government or its main political ally calls a poll, vowing they are also ready to govern the country in the best possible way and to resolve longstanding problems.

Turkey lifted a four-day curfew imposed in 15 provinces on May 15 midnight to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus which claimed 4,199 lives in the country.

Turkey has been imposing weekend curfews since April 11-12, however, the period was extended to four days this weekend to cover the May 19, an official holiday marking the Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day.

Turkey officially extended a travel ban in 15 major cities for 15 more days due to the pandemic, according to Interior Ministry on May 19. 

In a statement, the ministry said the travel ban will continue between May 20 and June 3 and those who do not comply with the travel restrictions will be imposed administrative fines.

Turkey has imposed a four-day curfew in 15 provinces beginning on May 15 midnight in an effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus that has claimed 4,055 lives in the country.
Although the country usually declares curfew at the weekends, the period was extended to four days as May 19 is celebrated as an official holiday in the country.

Turkish forces held 1,773 irregular migrants across the country in the past week, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency.

Turkey has been the main route for irregular migrants trying to cross to Europe especially since 2011 when the Syrian civil war started.

The General Directorate of Meteorology has announced that snowfall expected in the high parts of Ankara province.

Ankara woke up with cold and snowy weather on Jan. 6 and snowfall in the high parts of the city accelerated.

An official statement has not yet been made as to whether there is a snow holiday for schools in Ankara.