2018 Turkish presidential election explained

Country:Turkey
Type:presidential
Previous Election:2014 Turkish presidential election
Previous Year:2014
Election Date:24 June 2018
Next Election:2023 Turkish presidential election
Next Year:2023
Opinion Polls:Opinion polling for the 2018 Turkish general election
Turnout:86.24% (12.11 pp)
Image1:Recep Tayyip Erdoğan 2018 (cropped).jpg
Candidate1:Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Party1:Justice and Development Party (Turkey)
Alliance1:People
Popular Vote1:26,330,823
Percentage1:52.59%
Candidate2:Muharrem İnce
Party2:Republican People's Party
Alliance2:Nation
Popular Vote2:15,340,321
Percentage2:30.64%
Image4:Selahattin Demirtaş 2018 (cropped).jpg
Candidate4:Selahattin Demirtaş
Party4:Peoples' Democratic Party (Turkey)
Alliance4:HDK
Popular Vote4:4,205,794
Percentage4:8.40%
Image5:Meral Akşener İYİ Party 1 (cropped).jpg
Candidate5:Meral Akşener
Party5:İyi Party
Alliance5:Nation
Popular Vote5:3,649,030
Percentage5:7.29%
Map Size:300px
President
Before Election:Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Before Party:Justice and Development Party (Turkey)
After Election:Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
After Party:Justice and Development Party (Turkey)

Presidential elections were held in Turkey on 24 June 2018 as part of the 2018 general election, alongside parliamentary elections on the same day. They were the first presidential elections held after constitutional amendments were approved in a 2017 referendum.

The elections were originally scheduled for November 2019. President Erdoğan and MHP Chairman Bahçeli called for early elections, giving as reason to "not wait any longer" for the entry into force of the 2017 constitutional amendments.[1] Following this, with the 2018 elections, the office of prime minister was abolished and the first government under the presidential system took office.

Incumbent President Erdoğan declared his candidacy for the People's Alliance on 27 April 2018. The main opposition, the Republican People's Party, nominated Muharrem İnce, a member of parliament known for his combative opposition and spirited speeches against Erdoğan.[2] The Peoples' Democratic Party nominated Selahattin Demirtaş, its imprisoned former chairman. Besides these candidates, Meral Akşener, the founder and leader of the İyi Party, Temel Karamollaoğlu, the leader of the Felicity Party, and Doğu Perinçek, the leader of the Patriotic Party, announced their candidacies and collected the 100,000 signatures required to stand.

Campaigning centred mainly on the faltering economy and the currency and debt crisis, with both government and opposition commentators warning of a more serious economic crisis following the elections. The 2018 Gaza border protests, following the United States recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel, along with the Turkish military operation in Afrin, also featured in the campaign.

Electoral system

The President of Turkey is directly elected through the two-round system, under which a candidate must obtain at least 50%+1 of the popular vote in order to be elected. If no candidate secures an overall majority outright, then a runoff is held between the two most voted-for candidates from the first round, the winner of which is then declared elected. The first direct election to the Turkish presidency was held in 2014, after a referendum in 2007 abolished the previous system under which the head of state was elected by the legislature, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The President of Turkey is subject to term limits, and may serve at most two consecutive five-year terms.

Prospective presidential candidates must be at least 40 years old and must have completed higher education. Any political party that has won 5% of the vote in the previous parliamentary election can put forward a candidate, although parties that have not met this threshold can form alliances and field joint candidates as long as their total vote share exceeds 5%. Independents can run if they collect 100,000 signatures from the electorate.[3] An estimate released in July 2017 predicted that collecting 100,000 signatures to stand for election could exceed 15 million (US$4.2 million) in costs, if each individual signature would require certification by a notary. However, the Supreme Electoral Council of Turkey (YSK) announced that signature collection would occur between 4 and 9 May, with voters having to submit their nominations at their local electoral council branch.

Based on the results of the previous general election in November 2015, only the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Republican People's Party (CHP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) are eligible to field candidates for the presidential election. The remaining parties combined received under 3% of the vote and are thus unable to field either a joint candidate or a candidate in their own right. In addition to past election results, parties which have a parliamentary group can nominate a candidate. Thus, the newly formed İyi Party was also eligible to nominate their candidate, as 15 CHP members of parliament had defected to them with the intention of allowing the party to form a parliamentary group. However, İyi Party leader and presidential candidate Meral Akşener insisted on being nominated by collecting signatures rather than through parliament.

Candidates

Official candidates

The Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) formally announced the candidates on 13 May.[4]

Official list of presidential candidates in order they appear on the ballot paper[5]
123456
Muharrem İnceMeral AkşenerRecep Tayyip ErdoğanSelahattin DemirtaşTemel KaramollaoğluDoğu Perinçek
CHP
İYİ
AK Party
HDP
Felicity
Patriotic
View campaignView campaignView campaignView campaignView campaignView campaign

Selection process

In the run-up to the election, various parties underwent a candidate selection process to nominate presidential candidates.

People's Alliance (AK Party and MHP)

Serving president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was widely seen as the undisputed candidate of the People's Alliance, an alliance set up by the governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). This was confirmed by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli on 21 April 2018.[6] The AK Party parliamentary group voted unanimously to nominate Erdoğan on 3 May.[7]

Republican People's Party (CHP)

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) began a wide search for a candidate, with several rumours that the party was content with supporting a cross-party candidate that was not necessarily in line with the party's values as part of an election alliance. CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu subsequently conducted several meetings with the leaders of the Felicity Party and the İyi Party. Former President Abdullah Gül was mentioned as a cross-party option, allegedly receiving the support of senior officials, but was disbanded following heavy opposition from the lower ranks and voters. Gül eventually announced that he would not stand, citing the lack of cross-party consensus.[8] Despite ruling it out several times, party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was frequently mentioned as a potential candidate, along with Yılmaz Büyükerşen, İlhan Kesici, Muharrem İnce and Mehmet Haberal. Certain MPs, such as Öztürk Yılmaz and Didem Engin also publicly declared their interest.[9] On 26 April, CHP MP Özgür Özel, himself seen as a potential candidate, announced that their nominee would be one who would make the AK Party 'crazy' the most.[10] On 4 May, Yalova MP Muharrem İnce was declared the party's candidate.[11]

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP)

The HDP nominated Selahattin Demirtaş, their former leader who was also the HDP's candidate in 2014, on 4 May.[12] It was reported that the party executive had broadly agreed on Demirtaş earlier, raising concern that his preventative detention since 2016 could potentially bar him from running. Originally due in court on 11 April, Demirtaş's trial for charges of 'spreading terrorist propaganda' was delayed to 30 April, and then again to 8 June.[13] His candidacy was announced as a part of a 'broad coalition of Kurdish and left-wing parties'.[14] His lawyers and HDP officials claimed that his detention wouldn't affect his candidacy. In his first message after announcing his candidacy, he called on his supporters to be his 'hands and arms' during the campaign.[15]

İyi Party

Upon announcing the İyi Party's establishment on 25 October 2017, party leader Meral Akşener announced that she would be a candidate in the presidential election.[16] She reaffirmed her candidacy on 18 April 2018, shortly after the election was called.[17] The party subsequently received pressure from the CHP and the Felicity Party (SP) to enter a joint alliance and support a cross-party candidate, with the SP supporting Abdullah Gül. Akşener refused to withdraw her candidacy, with the party's General Administration Council voting unanimously to nominate her as their party candidate on 24 April 2018.[18]

Felicity Party (SP)

In the run-up to the election, SP leader Temel Karamollaoğlu managed to carry his party to the mainstream media following a number of speeches where he heavily criticised the government. This led to the SP being regarded as a potential kingmaker in future alliances, causing several larger parties to approach Karamollaoğlu in a bid to field a joint candidate. Although this led to the Nation Alliance being established between the SP, CHP and the İyi Party, no consensus was reached on a joint presidential candidate and each party decided to nominate their own. The SP polled their members on four potential candidates, namely Karamollaoğlu, Abdullah Gül, Haşim Kılıç and Abdüllatif Şener. Karamollaoğlu was announced as the party's candidate on 1 May.[19]

Others

The left-wing Patriotic Party declared their leader Doğu Perinçek as their candidate. As part of a triple alliance of small centre-right parties consisting of the Motherland Party (ANAP), the True Path Party (DYP) and the Justice Party (AP), the AP's leader Vecdet Öz was nominated as a joint candidate. As independents, journalist Levent Gültekin and Tuna Bekleviç declared their intentions to run.

Nominations

The Constitution of Turkey, amended following the 2017 constitutional referendum, allows any party with a parliamentary group (at least 20 MPs) to nominate a presidential candidate. This meant that the AK Party, CHP, HDP, MHP and technically the İyi Party were eligible to automatically nominate candidates through parliament. Meral Akşener, the İyi Party's leader and presidential candidate, opted to be nominated through signatures instead. The MHP, as part of the People's Alliance, did not field a candidate and announced support for the AK Party candidate Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The CHP formally nominated Muharrem İnce and the HDP nominated Selahattin Demirtaş. The remaining candidates were required to collect at least 100,000 signatures.

Voters were able to give signatures to their preferred presidential candidate between 4 May and 9 May at their local electoral council branch. They were only permitted to nominate one candidate. Seven candidates applied to the YSK to seek nomination by signatures, with three applications being rejected due to insufficient paperwork. As a result, the remaining four successful applicants were as follows.

Voters abroad were not eligible to give signatures, prompting Perinçek to appeal to the Constitutional Court, arguing that the YSK had violated the rights of Turkish citizens abroad. Overseas citizens were, however, allowed to send a signed declaration by post to their local electoral council in Turkey. Only 72 overseas citizens did so, with 17 signing for Akşener, 18 signing for Karamollaoğlu, 35 signing for Perinçek and no signatures for Öz.[20]

PartyCandidateDaily signaturesResult
4 May[21] 5 May[22] 6 May[23] 7 May[24] 8 May[25] 9 May[26]
İYİ
SP Temel Karamollaoğlu
VATAN Doğu Perinçek
AP Vecdet Öz
Totals

Campaign

Erdoğan campaign

See main article: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presidential campaign, 2018. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, incumbent President of Turkey since 2014, was officially nominated as the presidential candidate of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on 3 May 2018.[27] Shortly thereafter, the nominally oppositional Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) reiterated that it would endorse Erdoğan's candidacy, and would jointly apply to the electoral commission for its formal registration.[28] In early May, it was confirmed by Erdoğan that he would be visiting the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo in the early stages of the campaign, most likely on 20 May 2018, and hold campaign rallies with the Bosnian Turks to drum up support for his re-election bid.[29]

İnce campaign

See main article: Muharrem İnce presidential campaign, 2018. Muharrem İnce, a member of parliament for Yalova, was announced as the presidential candidate of the Republican People's Party (CHP) on 3 May 2018. On the following day, 4 May, party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu formally proclaimed the CHP's support for İnce. Shortly thereafter, the CHP began preparations for the campaign season, launching the production of campaign material and merchandise. It was revealed in early May that İnce's campaign would adopt the slogan "Türkiye'ye güvence Muharrem İnce", roughly translating to "Muharrem İnce, an assurance to Turkey",[30] and that it would be kicked off with an election rally in his home city of Yalova on 5 May.[31]

Demirtaş campaign

See main article: Selahattin Demirtaş presidential campaign, 2018. Selahattin Demirtaş was officially announced as the candidate of the People's Democratic Party (HDP) on 4 May 2018, after members of the party had hinted at his candidacy weeks in advance. Party leader Pervin Buldan declared that Demirtaş, a jailed former co-chair of the HDP, would be leading a five-party "Kurdish alliance" into the general election.[32]

Akşener campaign

Meral Akşener was nominated as the candidate of the İyi Party on 4 May 2018, after she had successfully collected the 100,000 signatures required for minor party candidates to gain ballot access. Reportedly, she passed this threshold less than four hours after having launched her signature collection campaign.[33]

Karamollaoğlu campaign

See main article: Temel Karamollaoğlu presidential campaign, 2018. Temel Karamollaoğlu was nominated as the candidate of the Felicity Party (SP) on 6 May 2018, after he had successfully collected the 100,000 signatures required for minor party candidates to gain ballot access. Karamollaoğlu's campaign adopted the slogan "Türkiye'ye bilge başkan" ("A wise leader for Turkey").

Perinçek campaign

Doğu Perinçek was nominated as the candidate of the VATAN Party on 9 May 2018, after he had successfully collected the 100,000 signatures required for minor party candidates to gain ballot access.[34]

Endorsements

Parties

CandidateEndorsementIdeology
Nationalist Movement PartyUltranationalism
Great Unity PartySunni Islamism
Free Cause Party[35] Pan-Islamism
Motherland Party[36] Social conservatism
AS Party[37] Militarism
Homeland Party[38] Turkish nationalism
Underemployed and Pensioners' Party of Turkey[39] Social democracy
Women's PartyFeminism
Unhindered Life PartyDisability rights
Great Turkey PartyLiberal conservatism
National Struggle PartyTurkish nationalism
Defense of Rights Movement PartyKemalism
Unity Party of TurkeyKemalism
United Turkey PartyTurkish nationalism
Young Anatolia PartyNational conservatism
Motherland Party[40] Liberal conservatism
Democratic Regions Party[41] Democratic confederalism
Freedom and Solidarity PartySocialism
Workers' Party of Turkey[42] Communism
Freedom and Socialism PartyDemocratic socialism
Labour Party[43] Hoxhaism
Kurdistan Socialist PartyLeft-wing nationalism
Kurdistan Freedom Party[44] Conservative liberalism
Kurdistan Democratic Party/NorthKurdish nationalism
Socialist Party of the Oppressed[45] Anti-revisionism
Labourist Movement PartyMarxism–Leninism
Democratic PartyLiberal conservatism
True Path Party (Muğla branch)[46] Liberal conservatism
Rights and Equality PartyTurkish nationalism

NGOs and unions

Controversies

State of emergency

See also: 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt. On 20 July 2016, five days after an attempted coup, the government declared a state of emergency (Turkish: Olağanüstü Hal, OHAL), allowing ministers to rule the country by decree, bypassing parliament and limiting certain civil freedoms. The government have frequently been criticised for violating the constitutional limits of a state of emergency, using it as an excuse for governing without any political opposition. Since 2016, the state of emergency has been extended for the sixth time, with parliament voting to extend it by a further three months on 18 January 2018.[47] The extension led to speculation that the election would occur under state of emergency conditions, similar to the 2017 constitutional referendum.

Heather Nauert, the Spokesperson for the United States Department of State and acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, issued a statement on 20 April citing 'concern' for whether free and fair elections would be possible under a state of emergency.[48] On 24 April, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) issued a statement calling for the elections to be delayed, declaring that they would not meet European standards or be held in a democratic manner. Prince Zeid bin Ra'ad, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, also issued a statement calling for the state of emergency to end in order to guarantee credible elections.[49]

The calls to end the state of emergency were criticised by the Turkish government and loyal members of parliament, who called the PACE declaration 'politicised, unfair, unjust and beyond the limits'. Prime minister Binali Yıldırım criticised PACE for being 'non-credible' due to it having invited Democratic Union Party (PYD) chairman Salih Muslim, who is regarded as a terrorist leader by Turkey, to give a speech. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared Nauert's statements about a forthcoming election 'unacceptable'.[50]

Media censorship

Following his nomination as the CHP's presidential candidate on 4 May, Muharrem İnce began his campaign with a rally in his hometown of Yalova. It was noted that only pro-opposition TV channels such as Halk TV were covering the event, with the state broadcaster TRT notably absent. In his next rally at Balıkesir, İnce declared that if TRT were to continue not broadcasting opposition campaigns, he would march to the TRT headquarters with the CHP's 130 MPs and conduct his next rally in front of them.[51]

A similar situation was observed during the İyi Party's first extraordinary congress on 1 April, which was only covered by Halk TV. In response, party leader Meral Akşener claimed that she had not embarked on her campaign with any expectations from 'the government's media'.[52] The party subsequently sent the TRT photos from the congress, an abacus and a calculator as a 'present', so that they could count how many people attended the event.[53]

Election violence

On 7 May, a group armed with knives and clubs consisting of allegedly 50 to 60 people approached an İyi Party election stand in Bağcılar, Istanbul, wounding 8 people with one in critical condition.[54] [55] The group allegedly consisted of rival Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) campaigners, many of which had reportedly been suspended from the party for past violent activity.[56] A total of 8 people were arrested following the attack, with six being released and two being charged afterwards.[57]

On 8 May, the house of İyi Party founding member Mehmet Aslan in Beykoz, Istanbul was shot at by unknown assailants. Aslan was not in the building at the time.[58]

On 26 May, a group of Felicity Party and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) activists engaged in a brawl in Ankara following a dispute over hanging up party flags. Clubs were used by MHP activists, injuring 7 Felicity Party activists with two in serious condition.[59] Felicity Party MP candidate for Ankara, Mehmet Fethi Öztürk, was among the two seriously injured. Gunshots were also reported, which were blamed on Öztürk and led to his arrest while in hospital.[60]

Nomination irregularities

The Supreme Electoral Council of Turkey (YSK) had devised a system to collect signatures for voters to nominate candidates, with the process taking place between 4 and 9 May. On 8 May, Patriotic Party leader Doğu Perinçek, who by that time was close to reaching the 100,000 signatures needed for nomination, criticised the system for irregularities. Perinçek claimed that the system has crashed throughout 8 May, affecting people who wanted to give signatures, criticising the government for incompetence.[61] The crashes in the system caused doubt about whether Perinçek would reach the required 100,000 signatures by the 9 May deadline.[62] Regardless, Perinçek managed to surpass 100,000 signatures by noon on 9 May.

Leaked speech

During a leaked speech of a private meeting with AK Party officials, Erdoğan ordered them to go in a great number as official representatives in voting locations to seize control of the ballot boxes, ensuring that the "work there would be finished before it even started". He also ordered them to target HDP voters with the help of AK Party local officials who he assured them would be in possession of voters lists to help with their "special work". This would be done in order to prevent HDP crossing the 10% electoral threshold, which would greatly help the AK Party and prevent a repeat of the "7 June experience",[63] when the AK Party lost its parliamentary majority in an upset defeat.

Opinion polls

See main article: Opinion polling for the Turkish general election, 2018.

Opinion polls have been conducted to gauge voter intentions for the presidential election. Polls have generally shown a clear lead for Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, though with vote totals below his 2014 election victory where he was elected with 51.8% of the vote outright. Indicating that a second round will most likely take place, the polls indicate that there is competition between Muharrem İnce and Meral Akşener over who will proceed to the run-off and face Erdoğan. Emboldened vote shares indicate percentages above 50%, indicating outright first round victory.

Voting intention

DatePollsterSample sizewidth=75 Erdoğanwidth=75 İncewidth=75 Akşenerwidth=75 Demirtaşwidth=75 Karamollaoğluwidth=75 Perinçekwidth=60 rowspan=2Lead 1width=60 rowspan=2Lead 2
16–17 Jun 2018Gezici1,81248.229.111.410.01.20.1
13 June 2018Plus Mayak45.828.913.110.21.80.2
13 June 2018AKAM2,46044.529.014.59.32.50.2
6–13 Jun 2018REMRES5,67443.629.512.311.43.00.2
11 June 2018CHP45.632.28.210.73.10.2
8–11 Jun 2018Mediar2,41048.029.99.210.22.10.8
İyi Party42.022.422.711.01.9
MAK5,40051.524.412.58.82.20.6
Sonar3,00048.331.49.58.22.10.5
ORC3,41053.423.811.58.72.10.5
Konsensus2,00047.926.814.89.70.70.1
Mediar4,26843.522.219.312.81.60.6
REMRES4,27642.224.616.912.33.80.2
MAK5,00051.423.912.39.62.20.6
Sonar3,00042.021.921.011.02.12.0
Politic's2,65052.225.512.38.51.10.4
REMRES3,65342.124.117.112.63.90.2
Election51.7
38.6
9.8

Results

By demographic groups

Sociology of the electorate
DemographicErdoğanİnceDemirtaşAkşenerKaramollaoğlu
Total Vote52.59%30.64% 8.40% 7.29% 0.89%
Parliamentary election vote
AK PARTY78%1%1%5%-
CHP1%71%4%9%-
HDP1%10%94%0%-
IYI1%13%0%72%-
MHP17%4%0%13%-
Nation+People(Alliance vote)2%1%0%1%-
1 November 2015 vote
AK PARTY89%6%1%4%0%
CHP6%89%1%4% 0%
HDP10%19%71%0%0%
MHP45%25%0%25%1%
2017 Constitutional Referendum vote
Yes91%4%1%3%1%
No9%65%15%14%1%
When decided
Voting Day4%4%2%3%-
Final week3%3%1%9%-
Between last 1–4 weeks1%10%2%8%-
Between last 1–2 months3%13%6%9%-
Before 2 months89%72%87%69%-
No answer0%0%1%2%-
Age
18–29 years old50%30%11%8%1%
30–44 years old53%27%12%7%1%
45+ years old54%33%4%8%1%
Sex
Women54%35%5%6%0,2%
Men51%26%11%10%2%
Education
Elementary or less60%23%10%6%1%
High school52%32%6%9%1%
Bachelor's degree32%50%7%10%1%
Employment status
Employee51%32%8%8%1%
Unemployed49%27%17%6%1%
Housewife60%28%7%5%0%
Student/Non-working59%30%7%4%0%
Retired43%31%3%21%2%
Was the campaign process fair?
Fair83%19%25%26%-
Not fair14%76%75%69%-
No comment4%5%10%5%-
Future expectance
Better88%12%20%13%-
Same6%14%18%25%-
Worse3%69%55%53%-
Primary agenda of government should be
Economy38%44% 25%52%
Fight against terrorism11%4%5%9%-
Education reform4%8%2%6%-
Start of solution process3%3%21%9%-
Cancellation of OHAL1%8%11%5%-
Law reform4%5%6%2%-
Foreign policy3%5%1%2%-
Human rights and democracy2%5%5%3%-
Source:Ipsos Turkey[64]

Notes and References

  1. News: Erdoğan erken seçim tarihini açıkladı . 11 March 2023 . www.cumhuriyet.com.tr . 18 April 2018 . tr.
  2. News: Turkey's main opposition nominates combative former teacher to challenge Erdogan. 4 May 2018. Reuters. 6 May 2018.
  3. Web site: Anayasa değişikliği maddeleri tam metni | Yeni anayasa maddeleri nelerdir? | Son Dakika Türkiye Haberleri . Cnnturk.com . 23 October 2017.
  4. Web site: Archived copy . 13 May 2018 . 14 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180514071201/http://www.ysk.gov.tr/doc/karar/dosya/77662/2018-472.pdf . dead .
  5. Web site: YSK'da kura çekimleri yapıldı! Cumhurbaşkanı adaylarının sıralaması belli oldu. 14 May 2018. 15 May 2018.
  6. Web site: MHP Genel Başkanı Devlet Bahçeli: Adayımız Sayın Recep Tayyip Erdoğan'dır. 21 April 2018 .
  7. Web site: Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan 316 İmza İle Aday Oldu!. Kamupersoneli.net.
  8. Web site: Abdullah Gül beklenen kararını açıkladı: Aday değilim. 28 April 2018 .
  9. Web site: CHP Milletvekili Didem Engin: Cumhurbaşkanlığı aday adayıyım Gündem Haberi - GÜNEŞ.
  10. Web site: CHP'li Özgür Özel: 'Erdoğan'ı en çıldırtacak adayı açıklayacağız'. CNN Türk. 15 May 2018.
  11. Web site: CHP Cumhurbaşkanı Adayı Muharrem İnce: 'Partili Olmayacağım'. Yıldız. Yazıcıoğlu. 4 May 2018 .
  12. Web site: HDP'nin Cumhurbaşkanı adayı Selahattin Demirtaş oldu. 4 May 2018 .
  13. News: Demirtaş'ın duruşması 8 Haziran'a ertelendi . Turkish . Demirtaş's trial adjourned until 8 June . 30 April 2018 . Deutsche Welle.
  14. Web site: HDP resmen açıkladı: Demirtaş aday. 5 May 2018 .
  15. News: HDP'nin adayı Demirtaş'tan ilk mesaj . Turkish . First message from HDP candidate Demirtaş . 4 May 2018 . Deutsche Welle.
  16. Web site: Meral Akşener "İyi Parti"nin kuruluşunda konuştu. 25 October 2017.
  17. Web site: Erken seçim kararı sonrası Meral Akşener'den flaş açıklama.
  18. Web site: İyi Parti Genel İdare Kurulu Kararını Verdi: Cumhurbaşkanı Adayı Akşener. 24 April 2018.
  19. Web site: Saadet Partisi'nin Cumhurbaşkanı adayı Temel Karamollaoğlu oldu. 2 May 2018. 15 May 2018.
  20. Web site: 5. günün sonunda son durum! Perinçek.... 8 May 2018 . 15 May 2018.
  21. Web site: 100 Bin İmzada İlk Gün Atılan İmza Sayıları Belli Oldu - Bingöl Net - Bingöl Haberleri - Bingöl Son Dakika. 4 May 2018. 7 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180506231316/http://www.bingolnet.com/2018/05/04/100-bin-imzada-ilk-gun-atilan-imza-sayilari-belli-oldu/. 6 May 2018. dead.
  22. Web site: 100 bin imzada hangi aday kaç imza topladı?. 6 May 2018. 7 May 2018.
  23. News: Meral Akşener iki yüz bin imzaya ulaştı. 7 May 2018.
  24. Web site: Cumhurbaşlanlığı adayları için imza verme işleminde 4. gün sona erdi. 7 May 2018 . 7 May 2018.
  25. Web site: Cumhurbaşkanlığı adayları için imza verme işleminde son gün. 9 May 2018 . 15 May 2018.
  26. News: 100 bin imza süreci sona erdi… İşte son durum. Cumhuriyegt. 9 May 2018.
  27. Web site: AKP formally nominates Erdoğan for presidential election. Hürriyet Daily News. 3 May 2018 . 4 May 2018.
  28. Web site: AKP, MHP jointly apply to election board for Erdoğan's presidential bid. Hürriyet Daily News. 4 May 2018 . 4 May 2018.
  29. Web site: Erdogan's Bosnia Rally May Be Key Game-Changer. Balkan Insight. 4 May 2018. 4 May 2018.
  30. Web site: İşte Muharrem İnce'nin afişi ve sloganı. Cumhuriyet. 5 March 2018 . 4 May 2018.
  31. Web site: CHP presidential candidate İnce vows to be 'everyone's president'. Hürriyet Daily News. 4 May 2018 . 4 May 2018.
  32. Web site: HDP nominates imprisoned former leader Demirtaş for presidency. Hürriyet Daily News. 4 May 2018 . 4 May 2018.
  33. Web site: Akşener collects 100,000 signatures in 4 hours to become presidential candidate. Turkish Minute. 4 May 2018 . 4 May 2018.
  34. Web site: Baraj yıkıldı: Doğu Perinçek 100 bini aştı! - Aydınlık. Aydınlık. Gazetesi. 8 January 2016.
  35. Web site: Fundamentalist Islamist Party Hüda Par to Support Erdoğan . 28 May 2018 . Bianet.
  36. Web site: ANAP'tan Cumhur İttifakı'na destek kararı. Diriliş. Postası. 17 May 2018. Diriliş Postası. 26 May 2018. 19 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180619163337/https://www.dirilispostasi.com/2018-cumhurbaskanligi-ve-genel-secimi/anaptan-cumhur-ittifakina-destek-karari-5afd45d08ca780440d15e982. dead.
  37. Web site: AS Parti'den Cumhur İttifakı'na destek!. Mynet. 18 May 2018 .
  38. Web site: Sadettin Tantan kimi destekliyor. 24 June 2018.
  39. Web site: 9 siyasi partiden Muharrem İnce'ye destek. Mynet. 22 June 2018 . 24 June 2018.
  40. Web site: Anavatan Partisi'nden Muharrem İnce ve Millet İttifakı'na destek.
  41. Web site: PSK ile ÖSP'den Demirtaş'a destek. 24 June 2018.
  42. 1023935219768930304. tipgenelmerkez. TİP ve HDP arasında yapılan seçim ittifakına göre TİP Kurucu Meclis üyesi yoldaşlarımızın, seçimlerden sonra Türkiy…. 30 July 2018.
  43. Web site: EMEP: Seçimde Selahattin Demirtaş'ı ve HDP'yi destekleyeceğiz - Evrensel.net.
  44. News: 4 Partiyên tifaqa Kurdistanê: Dengê me ji Demîrtaş re ye. 13 June 2018.
  45. Web site: HDP'nin Adayı Selahattin Demirtaş.
  46. Web site: DYP'den İyi Partiye destek kararı. hamlegazetesi.com.tr.
  47. Web site: Son dakika: OHAL 6'ncı kez uzatıldı. 18 January 2018 . 15 May 2018.
  48. Web site: ABD'den 'erken seçim' açıklaması: Endişeliyiz. 8 May 2018 . 15 May 2018.
  49. News: U.N. rights chief urges Turkey to end state of emergency before vote. 9 May 2018. Reuters. 15 May 2018.
  50. Web site: ABD'ye. 20 April 2018. 15 May 2018.
  51. News: İnce'den Yalova'daki mitingi 'görmeyen' TRT'ye: Bu son uyarım, TRT 80 milyonundur - Diken. Diken - Yaramazlara Biraz Batar! . 5 May 2018. 15 May 2018.
  52. Web site: İyi Parti kongresini hiçbir kanal yayınlamadı. April 2018. 15 May 2018.
  53. Web site: İyi Parti'den TRT'ye özel hediye paketi!. 5 April 2018. 15 May 2018.
  54. Web site: 'İyi Parti saldırısı'nda tutuklanan iki kişi: MHP standını kapatıyorduk, bir anda oldu - Diken. 8 May 2018. 15 May 2018.
  55. News: İstanbul'da İyi Parti standına bıçaklı saldırı. BBC News Türkçe. 7 May 2018. 15 May 2018.
  56. Web site: İyi Parti cephesinden Bağcılar saldırısının perde arkası: MHP'li 'sicili bozuklar'ın işi - Diken. 8 May 2018. 15 May 2018.
  57. Web site: Son dakika haberi… İyi Parti standına saldıranlar tutuklandı. 15 May 2018.
  58. Web site: Son Dakika… İyi Parti kurucusuna silahlı saldırı. 15 May 2018.
  59. Web site: Ankara'da bayrak kavgası: 7 yaralı. 26 May 2018 .
  60. News: HDP'nin İtirazına Rağmen YSK 'Sandık Taşıma' Kararı Aldı . Turkish . Despite HDP's Objection, YSK Takes Decision to 'Move Ballot Boxes' . May 26, 2018 . Yildiz Yazicioglu . Voice of America.
  61. Web site: 'Sistem çökmüştü biz gelince çalıştı'. 15 May 2018.
  62. Web site: Perinçek aday olabilecek mi? YSK'nin sistemi çöktü. 15 May 2018.
  63. News: Erdogan Stokes Vote-Rigging Fears. Dorian. Jones. Voa . 24 June 2018.
  64. Web site: Ipsos Poll. Ipsos. Search. 2 July 2018. www.ipsos.com.