Turkey's ruling party Justice and Development Party (AKP) lost its absolute majority in parliament Sunday, in a stunning electoral defeat for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's bid to rewrite the country's constitution to create a presidential democracy that would expand his powers. For the first time, the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) cleared the 10 percent vote count threshold it needed to join parliament.
Turkey's Ruling Party Loses Parliamentary Majority
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HDP rally in Istanbul, June 8, 2015 (Salih Turan/VOA Kurdish)
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Pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) supporters celebration for their victory, June 8, 2015. (Salih Turan/VOA Kurdish).
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HDP rally in Istanbul, June 8, 2015. For the first time, the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) clears the 10 percent vote count threshold it needed to join parliament. (Salih Turan/VOA Kurdish)
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A lottery ticket vendor reads a Turkish newspaper published with an headline reads "downfall" and a portrait of Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, June 8, 2015.