World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkish dailies on Monday covered in detail the recently announced election manifesto of the Justice and Development (AK) Party, which was unveiled Sunday ahead of Turkey’s November 1 general election.

"Social revolution" headlined daily Aksam, saying the manifesto was "good news for all". The paper said the manifesto included revolutionary pledges that would increase the public's welfare.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu unveiled AK Party's manifesto in the capital city of Ankara on Sunday. The manifesto, titled "Turkey's Roadmap with Peace and Stability", includes diverse set of themes such as state protection of human dignity and democracy; equal citizenship; drafting of a new constitution plus measures to implement a people-oriented economic development plan.

Daily Star said that the manifesto was "human oriented" and that the AK Party had paid attention to the expectations of all people, including the young, old, working women, Alevis, workers and retired people.

"The AK Party manifesto is a reformist manifesto which cares about human dignity. It [the manifesto] is inclusive and aims at the growth of the Turkish economy," the paper quoted Davutoglu as saying.

The premier highlighted the need for a new civilian constitution in lieu of the post-1980 constitution currently in force, daily Sabah wrote.

He said that a new healthier political system required a new constitution, which would focus more on fundamental rights and freedoms, the paper said.

Yeni Safak reported the other significant parts of the election manifesto, including the government's fight against terrorism, the PKK terrorist organization and the so-called “parallel state”. Davutoglu pledged that the AK Party would make every effort to let peace prevail in Turkey, the paper added.

Turkey has been hit by a wave of attacks within the last three months, which has so far left over 100 martyrs. Turkish security forces in turn have killed over 2,000 terrorists identified as members PKK, a group accepted as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU and the U.S.

Economic growth and wage increases were also promised in the AK Party manifesto, Vatan wrote. Davutoglu said that, if elected, they would raise the monthly minimum wage to 1,300 Turkish liras (approximately $430) for Turkey’s around five million workers. The current minimum wage is 1,000 Turkish liras (approximately $334) per month. He also promised 100 Turkish liras wage increase for the retired, according to the paper.

Haber Turk published the premier's promise for young entrepreneurs looking to set up companies. They will be given grants of up to 50,000 Turkish liras and further interest-free loans of up to 100,000 liras, if the AK Party won the upcoming election, Davutoglu said.

The prime minister also mentioned the introduction of a presidential system, which featured prominently in the AK Party's June 7 election program, Hurriyet wrote. The paper quoted him as saying that his party believed the presidential system was the most “effective and dynamic governing system” that the AK Party's "New Turkey" vision required in order to prevent the “re-occurrence of past political instabilities".

Cumhuriyet said that the AK Party's promises were "fanciful" and compared them with what the main opposition the Republican People’s Party (CHP) had previously said. According to the paper, CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu too had promised that his party would cut taxes on the minimum wage so that workers would net 1,500 Turkish liras ($495) per month -- a promise which was criticized by an AK Party senior previously. "Now, AK Party promises 1,300 Turkish liras [approximately $430]," the paper wrote.

CHP, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and People’s Democratic Party (HDP) have already announced their election programs.

Turkey is going to the polls on November 1, which will determine whether the AK Party will win majority in the parliament or the country will face a coalition government.

Monday's dailies also reported Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's comments on Russian air attacks in Syria.

"Russia in a serious mistake" was the headline of Yeni Safak which quoted the president as saying: "Unfortunately, Russia is now [committing] a serious mistake and I am under the impression that this step will be a sign which will lead it [Russia] to isolation in the region".

The paper, sourcing Syria’s Council of Turkmen, published a story, which said that at least 200 civilians were killed in three days of Russian air attacks.

Russia began airstrikes in Syria on Wednesday to support the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Moscow insists that the strikes are targeting ISIL and affiliated terrorist groups, but Western countries and their Gulf allies believe moderate opponents of Assad and civilians are bearing the brunt of Russian bombing.

Russian steps in Syria are not acceptable for Turkey, daily Milliyet quoted Erdogan as saying. "Countries that are collaborating with the [Assad] regime will give an account before history," he added.