AKP MP hints at three elections in three years

ANKARA

A ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lawmaker has suggested that the party is working on a constitutional amendment to hold local elections in 2018 instead of 2019 and to postpone general elections by one year until 2020, in order to avoid having three polls in 2019, when a presidential election will also be held. 

“We are envisaging that local elections will be held in 2018. Local elections were supposed to be held in 2019, as well as parliamentary elections. But with regard to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s earlier statement that ‘parliamentary membership should last five years,’ the MPs this term should conduct their duties for five years” said AKP Manisa deputy Selçuk Özdağ, state-run Anadolu Agency reported late on Sept 15.

A three-party panel established by parliament after the failed July 15 military coup attempt has been continuing its work on a small-scale constitutional amendment mainly on restructuring supreme judicial institutions. However, the AKP has expressed its intention to expand the panel’s scope, with changing the election schedule part of the changes. 

Under normal circumstances, all three elections - local, presidential and parliamentary - would be conducted in 2019. 

Özdağ said the AKP is now preparing for local elections to be held in 2018, for presidential elections in 2019, and for general elections in 2020. 

“We are working on a new amendment. After the meetings with the leaders of political parties, the proposal will be submitted to a parliamentary vote. Turkey needs a new constitution, so after this happens, presumably in 2018, the local election will arrive,” he added.