Issues and developments during the Turkish general elections

The European Parliament sent a stern warning to EU membership candidate Turkey on April 14, accusing the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government of "backsliding" on democracy and the rule of law.

Turkey's main opposition party will lend support to a government proposal on a provisional change in the constitution that would allow parliament to lift the immunities of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmakers and others for one time only.

Selin Sayek Böke, the deputy leader and spokeswoman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), has called on country's opposition parties and specifically the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) to form a commission in parliament in order to find a solution to the Kurdish issue.

Turkey's main opposition party has given a cold shoulder to a proposal by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on a provisional change in the constitution which would allow parliament to lift the immunities of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmakers and others for one time only. 

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu has challenged Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu to "show courage" and engage in a debate on TV, after the latter accused the CHP of "supporting terrorism."

The process for writing a new constitution, which will include a shift to a presidential political system from the current parliamentary one, will be accelerated "to meet the expectations of the Turkish people," Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has vowed.

Turkey's Parliament decided on March 24 to establish an inquiry commission to conduct an in-depth probe into the alleged sexual abuse of children following news reports that eight male students were raped by their teacher at a private foundation in the Central Anatolian province of Karaman. 

Following a five-month-long vacancy, the Turkish government has appointed a police chief for the capital city of Ankara to act as its principal director. Mahmut Karaaslan, who had been serving as the police chief in the eastern town of Van, has been appointed to Ankara, according to a decree issued in the Official Gazette early March 15.  

The ruling and main opposition parties have traded accusations over the dissolving of an inter-party parliamentary panel tasked with drafting a new constitution after just three sessions. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) left the table on Feb.

Turkey's ruling and main opposition parties have blamed each other for the dissolving of an inter-party parliamentary panel tasked with drafting a new constitution after just three sessions. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) left the table on Feb.