The snap parliamentary election and presidential election held on June 24, 2018are particularly important because they were the final steps towards abolition of the parliamentary system in Turkey which had been in practice since 1908. The

referendum dated April 16, 2017 amended 18 different articles of the Constitution and introduced significant constitutional regulations establishing “the Turkish type of presidential system” as it is named by the government.

While the opponent parties considered elections as an opportunity of revitalizing the “NO block” after the lost referendum and a mean for re-construction of parliamentary system; the AKP and MHP joined under the “People’s Alliance”

saw the election as the final step of transition to the “strong government” which has been strongly desired by the rightwing political tradition of Turkey for 45 years throughout the eras of Erbakan, Turkeş and Özal. Both sides argued that

if they won the elections, democracy of Turkey would get stronger.

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