Turkey’s election board sets Nov. 1 as date for snap election

ANKARA

HÜRRİYET photo

The top election authority has finally set Nov. 1 as the exact date for Turkey’s early elections, with its head stating that it took “seasonal conditions” into consideration while making its decision.

The announcement by Supreme Election Board (YSK) President Sadi Güven came on Aug. 25, a few hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan officially tasked Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu with forming an interim government to lead the country to a new election, after two months of coalition talks failed to produce a working government. 

Davutoğlu had returned the mandate to form a new government to Erdoğan on Aug. 18. The 45-day deadline on the formation of a new government expired on Aug. 23, paving the way for fresh elections within 90 days - at the latest on Nov. 22.

Speculation had mounted over the possible impact of an election on Nov. 1, as there is an official holiday in the preceding days. It is thought that some civil servants may be planning to extend their one-day official Republic Day holiday on Oct. 29, negatively impacting voter turnout.

Meanwhile, the YSK also ruled that the CHP could implement a recently passed amendment to its internal regulations that would help it avoid holding primaries before the election during such a short timescale.

The CHP held primaries in 56 electoral districts ahead of the June 7 election, nominating 362 of its candidates for the 550-seat parliament through primaries, 35 candidates through a quota, and the rest according to decisions by the party’s headquarters and provincial branches.