Erdogan expects victory: Early parliamentary elections in Turkey today

Voting began this morning in Turkey in early elections held amid a deteriorating security situation in the country and economic concerns among citizens, and they could have a decisive impact on Turkey's political future and that of its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reports the Patria News Agency.

These are the second parliamentary elections in five months, after Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) failed to retain the absolute majority in the June elections, which would allow it to govern Turkey independently.

Erdogan sees the elections as a key opportunity to return to single-party rule by the AKP after months of uncertainty in the country.

"These will be elections for the continuity of stability and trust," he said after prayers at a new mosque in Istanbul on Saturday, promising to respect the election results. 

Voting began in eastern Turkey at 7 AM local time, and an hour later in the rest of the country. Polling stations will close at 5 PM, and a ban on publishing results will last until 9 PM, although the election commission usually lifts the ban before the official deadline, writes Index.