| Author (Corporate) | International Crisis Group |
|---|---|
| Series Title | Europe Briefing |
| Series Details | No.88, 2018 (13.06.18) |
| Publication Date | 12/06/2018 |
| Content Type | Report |
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Snap presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey on 24 June 2018 appeared likely to be more closely fought than anticipated. The country’s Kurds could affect the outcome of both contests. Politicians, especially those opposing President Erdoğan and his Justice and Development (AK) Party, have pledged to address some Kurdish demands in a bid to win their support. Background Debate on Kurdish issues had been taboo since mid-2015, when a ceasefire collapsed between Turkish security forces and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an insurgent group designated by Turkey, the US and the European Union as terrorist. That the election campaign in 2018 had opened space for such debate was a welcome development. The candidate that won the presidency and whichever party or bloc prevailed in parliamentary elections should build on the reinvigorated discussion of Kurdish issues during the campaign and seek ways to address some longstanding Kurdish demands – or at least ensure debate on those issues continued. |
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| Source Link | https://www.crisisgroup.org/file/6424/download?token=8rRK2QHa |
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| Countries / Regions | Turkey |
