Justice And Development Party related content 

Observers fear rise of ‘illiberal democracy'. European Union officials are increasingly worried that Turkey might be drifting in the direction of authoritarianism. A wave...

The Turkish electorate clearly did not penalise the ruling party for the failure to make progress on EU accession. Last Sunday, Turks gave Prime Minister Recep Tayyip...

Party fails to win two-thirds majority needed to change constitution unilaterally. The Justice and Development Party (AKP), led by Prime Minister Recep Hayyip Erdoǧan, has...

European Commission backs outcome of referendum. Turkish citizens have voted by a significant majority to approve constitutional reforms that weaken the influence of the...

Turks to vote on changes to the constitution amid concerns that AK party would be too powerful. When Turks vote in a referendum on Sunday (12 September), they will be...

The influence of the military has diminished, but that could allow the government to indulge its partisan tendencies. Turkey has undergone profound change since the...

Istanbul is understandably, but mistakenly, relying on geostrategic arguments to make its case for EU membership. A string of high-ranking Turkish officials and politicians...

New finance and foreign ministers appointed as part of government reorganisation. Ahmet Davutoğlu, a professor of international relations who served as chief foreign...

Turkey's prime minister has placed in threat a relationship that is critical to peace – and has put in question his interest in EU membership. The Turkish prime minister,...

EU member states' silence both on Turkey's failings and its membership prospects have reduced its leverage and strengthened those who oppose reform. With Croatia given a...

The EU must help Turkey discover its political destiny. The constitutional court case against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and...

Turkey's constitutional court decides not to ban the ruling party, but ‘warns' it against weakening the country's secular order. Turkey's constitutional court today...

The EU must not forget the influence it wields in Turkey and must keep open the dialogue with Ankara about future co-operation. It is interesting that French President...

Despite last year's landslide election, the AK party must now fight for its existence. The protracted struggle between modernisers and traditionalists in Turkey has seen a...

It would be better to turn membership talks into real partnership negotiations before the road ahead becomes a cul-de-sac. Are relations between Turkey and the European...

France claims court ban of AKP would not affect policy; officials say ban would reaffirm Sarkozy's stance. n 1 July, the first day of the French presidency of the EU,...

A court should not force women to choose between religious belief and educational aspirations. On 5 June, Turkey's constitutional court revoked government measures that...

Despite Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's claims, his critics say that the Turkish government is undermining the country's efforts to join the EU. Kirsty Hughes reports....

Just three months after it took office, Turkey's new government has attracted the wrath of liberal commentators for its uncertain start. The absence of rapid action on...

The election of a new Turkish president has cleared the way for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to form a new government, whose programme is to be announced during the...