Are snap elections on the table in Türkiye?

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Ömer Çelik, Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesperson, announced yesterday (January 2) that the parliamentary and presidential elections in Türkiye could be moved to an earlier date.

Çelik told this to reporters while the Central Executive Committee of AKP meeting, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was continuing.

Bahçeli: "We are ready for both options"

Today, Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), also welcomed the possibility of early elections for the first time in his weekly parliamentary group speech. 

"Whether the elections are held on time or earlier, we agree to and we are ready for both options," Bahçeli said.

April 30?

Speaking yesterday, AKP spokesperson Ömer Çelik did not openly respond with a "No" when asked about the reports that Erdoğan and Bahçeli agreed to hold the 2023 general elections on April 30.

He said, "I will be informing you if we reach a conclusion saying 'this is the date.'"

"Not a date to be evaluated as early election date"

A reporter told Çelik that the dates of April, 16-30 and May 14 are being discussed for the election date and asked "Is it necessary to move the elections to an earlier date?"

Çelik responded by saying that on June 18 the citizens are "leaving their accommodations" and that therefore that date was being evaluated.

Çelik said, "If we reach a concrete result in our evaluations, and say 'this will be the date' I will be informing you." 

Çelik also added, "But of course, this will not be a date to be evaluated as an early election date."

Middle of March?

Ali Babacan, the leader of the DEVA Party in the opposition Nation Alliance (or Table of Six) brought up the possibility of an early election before. 

Babacan predicted, at the end of November, that the government would have the tendency to go to elections before the "atmosphere" created by the rise of minimum wage at the beginning of the new year disappears.

Babacan had said that the government could opt for a snap election around the middle of March. "The atmosphere to be caught with the rise in the minimum wage, in the public employees' wages and in pensions will disappear until June since the inflation is very high," he had said, and that therefore, the government could choose to hold the elections before the Ramadan, around the middle of March.

Erdoğan-Bahçeli meeting

The possibility of an early election has become the top topic of the government following the December 29 meeting of Erdoğan and Bahçeli, according to information leaking from the AKP circles.

DW Türkçe published a report and wrote that the main topic of this meeting was the election date and that there was an initial agreement for April 30.

The number of MP'S of the People's Alliance in the parliament is not sufficient to move the elections to an earlier date with a decision of the parliament. 360 votes are required for such a decision which can only be secured with the support of the opposition.

"Table of 6 will not agree to later than April 6"

Ahmet Davutoğlu, the leader of the Gelecek Party in the Table of Six, participated in a TV program on Tuesday last week (December 27) and said that they [Table of Six] would not agree to a date later than April 6.

Davutoğlu said, "If there is going to be an election with the old legislation we can think about it."

There have been amendments in the election legislation of Türkiye that will enter into force as of April 6, 2023.

Davutoğlu also said that the President could go to snap elections if he dissolves the parliament.

"There is no point in moving the elections one month earlier," he added. (AEK/PE)