Turkey's Elections and Strained U.S. Relations
Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) won Parliamentary elections June 12, which means it will remain in power for a third term. The popular vote, divided among a number of parties, made the AKP the most popular party by far, although nearly half of the electorate voted for other parties, mainly the opposition and largely secularist Republican People’s Party (CHP). More important, the AKP failed to win a super-majority, which would have given it the power to unilaterally alter Turkey’s constitution. This was one of the major issues in the election, with the AKP hoping for the super-majority and others trying to block it. The failure of the AKP to achieve the super-majority leaves the status quo largely intact. While the AKP remains the most powerful party in Turkey, able to form governments without coalition partners, it cannot rewrite the constitution without accommodating its rivals. READ MORE
Erdogan wins parliamentary elections, falls short of two-thirds majority
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's party has won parliamentary elections. But results show that his AKP will fall short of the two-thirds majority needed to rewrite the constitution without other parties' cooperation. READ MORE
Finland election could derail bailouts in Europe
A huge surge in support for a Finnish nationalist party that opposes eurozone bailouts is complicating Europe’s plans to rescue Portugal and other debt-ridden economies. READ MORE
Kazakhstan’s steady progress toward democracy
The unrest that has gripped North Africa and the Middle East has been driven by a potent mixture of economics and politics. Citizens have taken to the streets to protest falling living standards, a lack of political power and an absence of opportunities. READ MORE
Who Attempts to Impede Pre-Term Presidential Elections in Kazakhstan?
Counselor of the President of Kazakhstan Yermukhamet Yertysbayev during a conversation with a reporter of the newspaper “Express K” placed all emphasizes within the subject of the oncoming pre-term elections. READ MORE
Kazakh presidential candidates publish political platforms
Presidential candidates in Kazakhstan have published their political platforms in official press. READ MORE
After Cuts, Voters Back Ruling Bloc in Estonia
Early results in Estonia’s parliamentary election on Sunday showed the ruling coalition headed for a victory, in a remarkable show of support for a government that has imposed harsh austerity measures to lift the country out of recession. READ MORE
Results of the local government elections in Lithuania as a test of the mood before parliamentary elections
According to preliminary results, most votes in the local elections of 27th February were won by the opposition social democrats – 21.4%. The left for the past three years have been criticising the policy of governing the conservatives/Christian democrats and of the extremely unpopular prime minister and the party leader Andrius Kubilius. Victory for the left, however, is not overwhelming. READ MORE
Estonian center-right coalition wins election
Estonia's center-right government has claimed victory in Sunday's election after a record number of e-votes. The ruling coalition has won credit for ending a recession and overseeing a successful transition to the euro. READ MORE
Early presidential elections in Kazakhstan
This April Kazakhstan will see early presidential elections. A relevant decree has been signed by the head of state, Nursultan Nazarbayev. This decision is alternative to a referendum that was suggested to extend his current term in office until 2020. READ MORE
