Turkey's Ruling Party Consolidates Its Fractured Power Base

In a string of local elections turned national referendum on the rule of one man, the big winner in the March 30 local elections in Turkey was Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP. The results — roughly 45 percent of the overall vote across the country was in favor of the AKP — renewed the party's mandate in the face of challenges that include a slowing economy and a wave of corruption allegations that triggered a Cabinet reshuffle at the beginning of the year. While the results mean Turkey's political landscape will remain polarized and combative, the outcome paves the way for Erdogan to make an expected bid for the presidency next August, consolidating his rule over the country's institutions and signaling increased confidence in the region.