AFP reports via Yahoo News President Erdogan of Turkey and his AKP lost ground in yesterday's elections. Erdogan had hoped (and campaigned) for a majority large enough to push through a constitutional change moving Turkey from a parliamentary system to a presidential/executive system.
Instead his AKP dropped from nearly 50% to around 41%. Turkey is headed for a coalition government, if one of the other three parties will join with AKP, or fresh elections in 45 days if they won't.
A third possibility, one we'd rather not see happen, is Erdogan refuses to accept the election results and seizes power in what amounts to a coup. Concern he isn't fully committed to democracy is widespread.
Turkey hasn't fully decided whether it is a stable, developed nation, or a third world backwater ruled by a caudillo. This election seems to be a step back from strongman rule, a vote for rule of law and modernity. We can hope.
An interesting development is a Kurdish party surpassing the 10% vote minimum to be officially represented in parliament. This is, I believe, a first.
