On 1 November, Turkey held snap parliamentary elections after efforts to form a coalition government following elections in June had failed. The election took place in a highly charged atmosphere with spiralling violence and terror attacks as a consequence of renewed conflict with the terrorist Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) and a number of suicide bombs linked to the so-called Islamic State (ISIS).

The eventual result defied Turkish opinion polls, with the Justice and Development Party (AKP) gaining 49.4% of the vote and more than enough seats to form a majority government. The days following the election have seen further crackdowns on the media and comments from President Erdoğan that Turkey should make constitutional reform a priority.

At this Policy Dialogue, two experts analysed the outcome of the elections and considered the likely impacts on domestic and foreign policy, including issues such as the economy, the Kurdish settlement process and relations with the EU.