James in Turkey's tidbits

The shiny bits from the Turkish political analysis and election website. Click items to read more.

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The manifestos of Turkey’s political parties, compared. [link]

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What is the Turkish position on the Armenian genocide?

The events of 1915 are ripe for historical research. Let’s pick at it before it goes completely rotten.

Read more here

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These will be the most contested districts in the upcoming Turkish general election [read more]

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If you were ever looking for signs of tension in the ranks of Turkey’s governing party, the deputy prime minister delivered with gusto [link]

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Three things that could ignite Turkey’s election [read more]

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Calls to abolish compulsory military service in Turkey are becoming increasingly mainstream [read more]

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An official adjusts a sign bearing the Turkish word for "Mine".

Some say the conflict in Syria risks destabilising Turkey. In fact, it is already happening. Turkey has multiple minefields to cross. [click]

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Both of Turkey’s main two political parties haveannounced leadership contests – but with markedly different styles [link]

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Erdoğan’s elevation to the presidency triggers immediate questions about his succession and how much he will remain involved with it. [link]

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Ekmeleddin's example: this man's imminent defeat and what it means for Turkey's future [link]

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Selahattin Demirtaş, the number three candidate for Turkish president, has solid left-wing ideas and bounds of optimism. But he won’t win, so why is he bothering? [link]

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For the first time, expatriates around the world can vote in a Turkish national election. The vast majority of their 2.5 million votes will be wasted.

For more, follow [this link]

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Polls show Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu is failing to produce the "Mansur Yavaş effect" [link]

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The campaign launch of Erdoğan’s main rival Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu sent us all to sleep. How will he persuade people to vote for him? [link]

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Turnout in Turkish local elections

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Two Turkish election trends: today's Yalova turnout sharply down on March; steadier in historically unsettled Ağrı. Now that it looks like the AK Party will lose in Ağrı and Yalova, there will be commentaries aplenty about a supposed turning point in Turkish politics. Ignore them. These are tiny cities with little influence on the national mood. The AK Party is still dominant and will determine the country's next president.

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Latest predictions: Izmir moves to the semi-safe council category, as the CHP will retain Turkey's third biggest city with ease.

But the party's hold over Tekirdağ, in European Turkey, is less secure, which makes the province too close to call.

For more, visit the predictions page.