Labour, Democracy and Freedom Bloc

The paradox of the referendum

An interesting paradox of the April 16 referendum is that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) alliance, in comparison to the Nov. 1, 2015, elections, was able to increase its votes only in the east and especially in the southeast. 

Nine opposition HDP lawmakers arrested, including co-chairs

Nine lawmakers from Turkey's opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), including its co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, were arrested on Nov. 4 in a probe that was launched against 14 of the party's lawmakers over alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Eight opposition HDP lawmakers arrested, including co-chairs

Eight lawmakers from Turkey's opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), including its co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, were arrested on Nov. 4 in a probe that was launched against 14 of the party's lawmakers over alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

EU envoys meet at urgent meeting on HDP detentions

European Union envoys in Ankara met on Nov. 4, under the head of the EU delegation to Turkey, over People's Democratic Party (HDP) co-chairs, lawmakers are detained as part of "terrorism" investigations.

The ambassadors of EU member states are believed to be discussing a joint stance against the detentions, which they fear threaten further instability for the country.