Turkey’s AK Party officially starts election campaign

ANKARA

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu presented Monday Justice and Development (AK) Party candidates for the Nov. 1 general election in a meeting in the Turkish capital Ankara.

The Nov. 1 general election is a rerun of the June 7 election that saw the ruling AK Party lose its majority and plunge the country into political uncertainty.

Addressing his supporters, Davutoglu said: “Let’s agree to a joint position against violence, terror while heading to the Nov. 1 election.”

“Let’s call for a declaration [from all parties] for the Nov. 1 election to be held in a secure environment,” he added.

Turkey has been subjected to a wave of terror attacks since late July, when the terrorist organization PKK renewed its armed campaign in the wake of a suicide bomb blast in Suruc that killed 33 pro-Kurdish activists.

Davutoglu also suggested that “a gentleman’s agreement” be reached between the political parties in Turkey to prevent noise and environmental pollution during the campaign. Traditionally, during campaigns in Turkey, numerous election vans blare out party tunes throughout the country's city streets decorated with flags of parties.