The conservative party of the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, won a clear victory in parliamentary elections, with a strong showing that critics worry might be used to further consolidate its power and circumscribe civil liberties as well as its political opposition.
However, Mr Erdogan, who said his party would be ''humble'', promised to seek consensus in writing a new constitution and said that his victory on Sunday would invigorate pro-democracy movements in the Middle East.
''We'll go to the opposition and we'll seek consultation and consensus to draft a constitution that will satisfy all sections of the population,'' Mr Erdogan said in a victory speech in Ankara.
Note EU-Digest: it is difficult to see how a new Constitution, which is expected to turn Mr. Erdogan into a President for life, would invigorate pro-democracy movements in the Middle East. If he really wants to show he is in favor of Democracy and freedom of expression his government should release the more than 66 locked-up journalists and provide open access to the internet for everyone.
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