Is this election really taking place and how?

Following President Tayyip Erdo?an?s remarks on Aug. 19 about Turkey swiftly heading for another election shortly after the one on June 7, the Supreme Election Board (YSK) sent a message to political parties on Aug. 20 suggesting Nov. 1 could be a suitable date for them to get ready for formalities.

That does not mean the election is going to take place on that date, it is up to the political authority to decide that, but at least there is a date to work on. That fits in the range of Oct. 25, Nov. 1 or Nov. 8 ? all Sundays - which was suggested earlier by Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu. 

But a few hours after Erdo?an said Turkey was going to an election at once, Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), issued a strong statement in writing asking for a declaration of a state of emergency and martial law in certain provinces at once and to avoid the election because of the current security risks.

Martial law has not been demanded by politicians for a long time in Turkey, the last time being in 1978 after the incidents known as the ?Kahramanmara? massacre,? in which more than 100 people were killed in three days in the southern town. The martial law declared as a consequence of the killings would be lifted years after the military coup on Sept. 12, 1980. 

Spokespersons from both the Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) and the Republican People?s Party (CHP) criticized the MHP leader because of a lack of trust in politics. Yet, Bahçeli might have a point. There has been an unbelievable escalation of violence between the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK) and Turkish security forces for almost a month in the mostly Kurdish populated towns of east and southeast Turkey. Travel is not safe between a...