Primary election

Hardline reformist Francois Fillon scored a resounding win in France's conservative primaries on Nov. 27, making him favorite to win a presidential election five months from now against the popular far-right and a deeply divided left. 

An Ankara court accepted the demand submitted by 543 delegates from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) for an extraordinary party congress meeting. The MHP administration will challenge this decision at the Supreme Court of Appeals. 

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was to be questioned by investigating magistrates on Feb.16 about a long-running scandal over his 2012 campaign finances.

The top election authority has finally set Nov. 1 as the exact date for Turkey?s early elections, with its head stating that it took ?seasonal conditions? into consideration while making its decision.

The Republican People's Party (CHP) has begun reviewing its options after the Supreme Election Board (YSK) suggested Sept. 8 in its election calendar draft as a possible date for CHP primaries. Turkey is expected to hold an early parliamentary election on Nov. 1, in line with an earlier proposal by the YSK.

What kind of messages should we deduce from the main opposition Republican People?s Party?s (CHP) recent election primaries?

The essential message should be this: Primaries increase the enthusiasm and feeling of belonging to the party?s constituency, increasing the intensity of the will of the people.

Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu, chairman of the social democrat opposition party, has opted to run in party primaries before the 2015 parliamentary polls in response to calls from ?zmir as well as to emphasize the meaning of democracy, particularly when it has been losing import in Turkey.

Monday marks the deadline for Greeks who believe they meet the criteria for receiving a share of the country’s 2013 primary surplus, the so-called «social dividend» to submit their applications.