Turkey votes – Brussels watches

Previews and reports regarding Turkey's parliament election on 1 November 2015.

According to media sources, the election could mark a turning point in relations with the European Union, either bolstering President Tayyip Erdogan's bid to accumulate more power or putting a check on a leader many in Europe accused of creeping authoritarianism.

Despite the concerns, some European leaders showed a pragmatic approach towards Mr Erdogan just before the election, appearing to set a deal on refugees above concern about worsening in human rights. The European Commission reportedly held back a critical report on Turkey until after the vote to avoid antagonising the Turkish president.

Fears about security in a NATO state bordering Syria and Iraq also loomed large.

• Primary Source

Politico, 30.10.15: [Opinion] Erdoğan pushes Turkey to the brink http://www.politico.eu/article/erdogan-endgame-snap-elections-kurds-vote/

ESO: Background information: Commission silent over crackdown on Turkish media group http://www.europeansources.info/record/commission-silent-over-crackdown-on-turkish-media-group/

ESO: Background information: Migrant crisis: EU leaders meet with focus on Turkey http://www.europeansources.info/record/migrant-crisis-eu-leaders-meet-with-focus-on-turkey/

ESO: Background information: Turkish general election, November 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkish-general-election-1-november-2015/

BBC News, 30.10.15: Why is Turkey election important? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34674006

Euronews, 30.10.15: Turkey snap election: AK Party in front but overall majority uncertain http://www.euronews.com/2015/10/30/turkey-snap-election-ak-party-in-front-but-overall-majority-uncertain/

RFI, 30.10.15: Embattled Kurdish party could back AKP-led coalition after Turkey's election http://www.english.rfi.fr/europe/20151030-embattled-kurdish-party-could-back-akp-led-coalition-after-turkeys-election

The Independent, 28.10.15: Turkey election: Could bitterly divided nation be only a few steps away from a dictatorship? http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/turkey-election-could-bitterly-divided-nation-be-only-a-few-steps-away-from-a-dictatorship-a6711106.html

The Wall Street Journal, 27.10.15: Why Does Turkey’s General Election Matter? http://blogs.wsj.com/briefly/2015/10/27/why-does-turkeys-general-election-matter-the-short-answer/

The Wall Street Journal, 30.10.15: Turkey, Deeply Divided, Prepares to Reprise Its June Vote http://www.wsj.com/articles/turkey-deeply-divided-prepares-to-reprise-its-june-vote-1446170910

BBC News, 29.10.15: Turkey election: Young voters want peace and influence http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34667289

Deutsche Welle, 30.10.15: Turkey heads to the polls http://dw.com/p/1Gx60

EUObserver, 29.10.15: Turkey raises price on EU refugee deal https://euobserver.com/foreign/130880

EurActiv, 28.10.15: Commission accused of playing ‘hide and seek’ with Ankara http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/commission-accused-playing-hide-and-seek-erdogan-318958

Deutsche Welle, 31.10.15: Turkish voters say: 'We want safety' http://dw.com/p/1Gxdd

BBC News, 01.11.15: Turkey election: Erdogan's AK Party seeks majority http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34691306

Today's Zaman, 31.10.15: Civil society, opposition alert for general election amid allegations of election fraud http://www.todayszaman.com/national_civil-society-opposition-alert-for-general-election-amid-allegations-of-election-fraud_402899.html

Today's Zaman, 01.11.15: Turks head to polls in rerun of key parliamentary election http://www.todayszaman.com/anasayfa_live-turks-head-to-polls-in-rerun-of-key-parliamentary-election_403042.html

EUObserver, 31.10.15: Turkey votes again, as EU seeks help on refugees https://euobserver.com/political/130905

France24, 31.10.15: Security tops agenda as Turkey holds critical poll http://www.france24.com/en/20151030-turkey-election-security-islamic-state-group-pkk-erdogan

Deutsche Welle, 01.11.15: Turkey returns to the polls http://dw.com/p/1GxrB

The Economist, 29.10.15: Turkey’s election. Voting to the sound of explosions http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21677227-country-long-admired-combining-democracy-and-islam-election-marred-violence-and?cid1=cust/noenew/n/n/n/2015112n/owned/n/n/nwl/n/n/n/email

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 04.11.15: Manolis Kefalogiannis: 'Turkey should take steps to modernise' http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20151030STO00763/

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