Roundup: Turkey's political parties gear up for snap elections amid economic difficulties

Less than a month to the snap elections in Turkey, political parties are striving to woo voters with new promises amid economic and security challenges facing the country of 78 million people.

Unveiling its election manifesto on Sunday, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) focused on bread-and-butter issues, similar to the main opposition Republican Peoples' Party (CHP) pledges for a pay rise for pensioners and a hike in minimum wages.

Having lost the majority in parliament for the first time in the June 7 elections after ruling Turkey for the last 13 years, the AKP has revised its position on the campaign by matching or coming close to the offers made by the opposition parties.

Four months ago, the AKP criticized the main opposition's pledges on the grounds that they lack the resources, Mehmet Yilmaz, a Turkish analyst, said.

"I wonder if those criticizing voices will say the same thing about the AKP now," he said.

On its part, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) centered its campaign theme on dealing with terrorism that has killed hundreds since July, including civilians, members of the Turkish security forces and militants of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK).

The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), seen as closer to the PKK, emphasized the need to bring peace to the country in its manifesto.

RESULTS WON'T CHANGE MUCH

Recent opinion polls suggest that the election results would not change significantly from what Turkey saw in the inconclusive June elections.

It may even worsen the outlook a little for the AKP's support among voters, according to a Gezici survey in September.

In the survey, the AKP received 39.8 percent, less than what it got in the last elections. Both the CHP and MHP posted increases while the HDP dropped slightly.

Nevertheless, polling at 12.3 percent, the pro-Kurdish HDP remains above the 10 percent threshold to enter parliament, which means a single party formation would not be possible in the post-election period.

Gezici polling company came very close in predicting the accurate results in the June elections.

In addition to economic woes, the AKP has also been subject to criticism in public debate over the resurgence of terror.

According to a survey, also conducted by Gezici, 66.4 percent of the public believes the AKP was negligent in taking the necessary precautions against terrorism.

More than 120 police officers and soldiers have been killed in terrorist attacks since June 7.

Speaking in an election rally in northeastern city Zonguldak on Monday, CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said the AKP is hiding behind claims that it had been deceived by the PKK during the three-year long settlement talks.

"Turkey should not be ruled by a government that can be deceived by anyone," he said.

AKP leaders, including former chairman and current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have all been recently saying that they were deceived by the PKK during the Kurdish settlement process, which was launched in 2012 by Erdogan and jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan.

"Society has lent great support to the settlement process, hoping it would bring peace," Abdulhamit Bilici, a Turkish expert, said.

"However, the resumption of terrorist attacks in the wake of the June 7 election considerably shocked those who were optimistic about the process," he added.

COALITION GOVERNMENT LIKELY

If the results on Nov. 1 would be the same as before, Turkey will have to get used to a coalition government.

It appears major parties are preparing themselves to that possibility.

The MHP, which blocked talks for coalition government with the AKP in the wake of the June elections, now says it will be open to taking part in a coalition with other parties except for the HDP.

The CHP has already signaled its willingness to enter into coalition with other parties.

The fact that most major parties are now offering similar promises on economy may make it easier to forge a coalition this time around.

In the meantime, voter confidence is waning in Turkey.

According to a recent survey by IPSOS, the number of people satisfied with the current state in Turkey, at 34 percent before the June 7 elections, fell to 22 percent in August and then to 15 percent in September.

Worries over the economy and terrorism topped the voters' concern, according to the survey.

"I think these results show an important loss of confidence in the existing political parties regarding their ability to solve the main problems facing Turkey," Seyfettin Gursel, an economist, said. Endit