Turkey's ruling party has won a parliamentary elections that many predicted would hand Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan a third term in office.
However, results indicated that Erdogan's Justice and Development Party had not won a two-thirds majority in parliament, a shortcoming that would force it to seek support for constitutional change from other political groups.
With 99 percent of votes counted, Erdogan's party had won 50 percent of the vote, according to TRT, the state-run television.
It said the Republican People's Party, the main opposition group, had 26 percent of the vote.
TRT said another opposition party, the Nationalist Action Party, had 13 percent, signaling it would stay in parliament by crossing the 10 percent vote threshold designed to keep out smaller parties.
According to the tally, the ruling party had won 326 seats in the 550-seat parliament.
Speaking to reporters in Istanbul as he cast his vote on June 12, Erdogan said it had been a "hectic but cheerful election campaign."
"We spoke during the rallies, now it's time for our people to say their word," Erdogan said. "They will decide today with their free will who is going to run this country for the next four years. Of course, this will be a litmus test for us. This will be the most honorable and respected decision."
Candidates from 15 political parties and 200 independents vied for places in parliament.
compiled from agency reports
However, results indicated that Erdogan's Justice and Development Party had not won a two-thirds majority in parliament, a shortcoming that would force it to seek support for constitutional change from other political groups.
With 99 percent of votes counted, Erdogan's party had won 50 percent of the vote, according to TRT, the state-run television.
It said the Republican People's Party, the main opposition group, had 26 percent of the vote.
TRT said another opposition party, the Nationalist Action Party, had 13 percent, signaling it would stay in parliament by crossing the 10 percent vote threshold designed to keep out smaller parties.
According to the tally, the ruling party had won 326 seats in the 550-seat parliament.
Speaking to reporters in Istanbul as he cast his vote on June 12, Erdogan said it had been a "hectic but cheerful election campaign."
"We spoke during the rallies, now it's time for our people to say their word," Erdogan said. "They will decide today with their free will who is going to run this country for the next four years. Of course, this will be a litmus test for us. This will be the most honorable and respected decision."
Candidates from 15 political parties and 200 independents vied for places in parliament.
compiled from agency reports
