Elections in Turkey
Encyclopedia
Turkey elects on the national level a legislature
. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey
(Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi) has 550 members, elected for a four year term (five years before the 2007 referendum
) by a system based on proportional representation
. To participate in the distribution of seats, a party must obtain at least 10% of the votes cast at the national level as well as a percentage of votes in the contested district according to a complex formula. The president was elected for a seven year term by the parliament prior to the 2007 constitutional changes, and will be elected for at most two five-year terms by the people in the future.
Turkey has a multi-party system
, with two or three strong parties
and often a fourth party that is electorally successful. Since 1950, parliamentary politics has been dominated by conservative
parties. Even the ruling AK Party
tends to identify itself with the "tradition" of DP. The leftist parties, most notable of which is CHP
, draw much of their support from big cities, coastal regions, professional middle-class, civil service
, military officers and the religious minority of Alevi
.
The Turkish general election, 2007
were held on 22 July 2007. The last one took place on 12 June 2011.
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey
Grand National Assembly of Turkey
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey , usually referred to simply as the Meclis , is the unicameral Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Turkish Constitution. It was founded in Ankara on 23 April 1920 in the midst of the Turkish War of Independence...
(Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi) has 550 members, elected for a four year term (five years before the 2007 referendum
Turkish constitutional referendum, 2007
A constitutional referendum on electoral reform took place in Turkey on 21 October 2007. After the aborted attempt to elect the next president in May 2007, the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan introduced substantial electoral reforms in parliament which were then passed with the votes of...
) by a system based on proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
. To participate in the distribution of seats, a party must obtain at least 10% of the votes cast at the national level as well as a percentage of votes in the contested district according to a complex formula. The president was elected for a seven year term by the parliament prior to the 2007 constitutional changes, and will be elected for at most two five-year terms by the people in the future.
Turkey has a multi-party system
Multi-party system
A multi-party system is a system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition, e.g.The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in the United Kingdom formed in 2010. The effective number of parties in a multi-party system is normally...
, with two or three strong parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
and often a fourth party that is electorally successful. Since 1950, parliamentary politics has been dominated by conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
parties. Even the ruling AK Party
Justice and Development Party (Turkey)
The Justice and Development Party , abbreviated JDP in English and AK PARTİ or AKP in Turkish, is a centre-right political party in Turkey. The party is the largest in Turkey, with 327 members of parliament...
tends to identify itself with the "tradition" of DP. The leftist parties, most notable of which is CHP
Republican People's Party (Turkey)
The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
, draw much of their support from big cities, coastal regions, professional middle-class, civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
, military officers and the religious minority of Alevi
Alevi
The Alevi are a religious and cultural community, primarily in Turkey, constituting probably more than 15 million people....
.
The Turkish general election, 2007
Turkish general election, 2007
Turkey's 16th general election was held on July 22, 2007 and resulted in a resounding victory for the incumbent Justice and Development Party...
were held on 22 July 2007. The last one took place on 12 June 2011.
In brief
- July 21, 1946 Total: 465
- CHPRepublican People's Party (Turkey)The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
: 396 seats, - DPDemocratic Party (Turkey)Democratic Party may refer to:* Democratic Party , current party* Democratic Party a historical party * Democratic Party a historical party...
: 62 seats, - Independent: 7 seats.
- May 14, 1950 - Total: 539
- DPDemocratic Party (Turkey)Democratic Party may refer to:* Democratic Party , current party* Democratic Party a historical party * Democratic Party a historical party...
: 470 - CHPRepublican People's Party (Turkey)The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
: 69
- May 2, 1954 - Total: 541
- DPDemocratic Party (Turkey)Democratic Party may refer to:* Democratic Party , current party* Democratic Party a historical party * Democratic Party a historical party...
: 502 - CHPRepublican People's Party (Turkey)The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
: 31 - CMP: 5
- Independent: 3
- October 27, 1957 - Total: 610
- DPDemocratic Party (Turkey)Democratic Party may refer to:* Democratic Party , current party* Democratic Party a historical party * Democratic Party a historical party...
: 424 - CHPRepublican People's Party (Turkey)The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
: 178 - CMP: 4
- HP: 4
- October 15, 1961 - Total: 450
- CHPRepublican People's Party (Turkey)The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
: 173 - APJustice Party (Turkey)The Justice Party was a Turkish political party prominent in the 1960s and 1970s. A descendant of the Democrat Party, the AP was dominated by Süleyman Demirel, who served six times as prime minister, and was in office at the time of the military coup on September 12, 1980...
: 158 - YTPNew Turkey PartyNew Turkey Party was a political party in Turkey. It was founded in 2002 following a leadership crisis in the Democratic Left Party that was the major partner in a three party coalition government....
: 65 - CMKP: 54
- October 10, 1965 - Total: 450
- APJustice Party (Turkey)The Justice Party was a Turkish political party prominent in the 1960s and 1970s. A descendant of the Democrat Party, the AP was dominated by Süleyman Demirel, who served six times as prime minister, and was in office at the time of the military coup on September 12, 1980...
: 240 - CHPRepublican People's Party (Turkey)The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
: 134 - MP: 31
- YTPNew Turkey PartyNew Turkey Party was a political party in Turkey. It was founded in 2002 following a leadership crisis in the Democratic Left Party that was the major partner in a three party coalition government....
: 19 - TİPWorkers Party of TurkeyWorkers Party of Turkey was a Turkish political party, founded in 1961. It became the first socialist party in Turkey to win representation in the national parliament. It was banned twice and eventually merged with the Communist Party of Turkey in 1988.TİP was founded by a group of labor union...
: 14 - CMKP: 11
- Independent: 1
- October 12, 1969 - Total: 450
- APJustice Party (Turkey)The Justice Party was a Turkish political party prominent in the 1960s and 1970s. A descendant of the Democrat Party, the AP was dominated by Süleyman Demirel, who served six times as prime minister, and was in office at the time of the military coup on September 12, 1980...
: 256 - CHPRepublican People's Party (Turkey)The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
: 143 - GP: 15
- BP: 8
- MP: 6
- YTPNew Turkey PartyNew Turkey Party was a political party in Turkey. It was founded in 2002 following a leadership crisis in the Democratic Left Party that was the major partner in a three party coalition government....
: 6 - TİPWorkers Party of TurkeyWorkers Party of Turkey was a Turkish political party, founded in 1961. It became the first socialist party in Turkey to win representation in the national parliament. It was banned twice and eventually merged with the Communist Party of Turkey in 1988.TİP was founded by a group of labor union...
: 2 - MHPNationalist Movement PartyThe Nationalist Movement Party , is a far-right political party in Turkey.In the 2002 general elections, the party had lost its 129 seats as it had won only 8.34% of the national vote...
: 1 - Independent: 13
- October 14, 1973 - Total: 450
- CHPRepublican People's Party (Turkey)The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
: 185 - APJustice Party (Turkey)The Justice Party was a Turkish political party prominent in the 1960s and 1970s. A descendant of the Democrat Party, the AP was dominated by Süleyman Demirel, who served six times as prime minister, and was in office at the time of the military coup on September 12, 1980...
: 149 - MSPNational Salvation PartyThe National Salvation Party was an Islamist political party in Turkey founded on 11 October 1972 as the successor of the banned National Order Party . The party was led by Necmettin Erbakan...
: 48 - DP: 45
- CGP: 13
- MHPNationalist Movement PartyThe Nationalist Movement Party , is a far-right political party in Turkey.In the 2002 general elections, the party had lost its 129 seats as it had won only 8.34% of the national vote...
: 3 - TBP: 1
- Independent: 6
- June 5, 1977 - Total: 450
- CHPRepublican People's Party (Turkey)The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
: 213 - APJustice Party (Turkey)The Justice Party was a Turkish political party prominent in the 1960s and 1970s. A descendant of the Democrat Party, the AP was dominated by Süleyman Demirel, who served six times as prime minister, and was in office at the time of the military coup on September 12, 1980...
: 189 - MSPNational Salvation PartyThe National Salvation Party was an Islamist political party in Turkey founded on 11 October 1972 as the successor of the banned National Order Party . The party was led by Necmettin Erbakan...
: 24 - MHPNationalist Movement PartyThe Nationalist Movement Party , is a far-right political party in Turkey.In the 2002 general elections, the party had lost its 129 seats as it had won only 8.34% of the national vote...
: 16 - CGP: 3
- DP: 1
- Independent: 4
- November 6, 1983 - Total: 399
- ANAPMotherland Party (Turkey)The Motherland Party, was a political party in Turkey. It was founded in 1983 by Turgut Özal. It was merged to Democratic Party in October 2009...
: 211 - HP: 117
- MDP: 71
- November 29, 1987 - Total: 450
- ANAPMotherland Party (Turkey)The Motherland Party, was a political party in Turkey. It was founded in 1983 by Turgut Özal. It was merged to Democratic Party in October 2009...
: 292 - SHP: 99
- DYPTrue Path PartyThe Democratic Party , abbreviated to DP, is a centre-right, conservative Turkish political party, established by Suleyman Demirel in 1983 as the Right Path Party...
: 59
- November 20, 1991 - Total: 450
- DYPTrue Path PartyThe Democratic Party , abbreviated to DP, is a centre-right, conservative Turkish political party, established by Suleyman Demirel in 1983 as the Right Path Party...
: 178 - ANAPMotherland Party (Turkey)The Motherland Party, was a political party in Turkey. It was founded in 1983 by Turgut Özal. It was merged to Democratic Party in October 2009...
: 115 - SHP: 88
- RPWelfare PartyThe Welfare Party was an Islamist political party in Turkey. It was founded by Ali Türkmen, Ahmet Tekdal and Necmettin Erbakan in Ankara in 1983 as heir to two earlier parties, Milli Nizam Partisi and Milli Selamet Partisi , which were banned from politics...
: 62 - DSPDemocratic Left Party (Turkey)The Democratic Left Party is a Turkish political party founded on November 14, 1985, by Rahşan Ecevit.-1985-1999:The DSP, a social democratic oriented party, was registered on November 14, 1985 by Rahşan Ecevit, wife of Bülent Ecevit, as he was banned from political life after the 1980 coup...
: 7
Presidential elections
- Turkish presidential election, 2007Turkish presidential election, 2007The 2007 Turkish presidential election refers to two attempts to elect the country's 11th president, to succeed Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The most likely candidate for president was Abdullah Gül...
- to elect the successor to Ahmet Necdet SezerAhmet Necdet Sezer- External links :* , Presidency of the Republic of Turkey... - Turkish presidential election, 2000Turkish presidential election, 2000The 2000 Turkish presidential election consisted of a first round election on 27 April 2000 followed by a second round vote on 1 May and a third on 5 May. It occurred at the end of 9th president Süleyman Demirel's seven-year term in office...
- to elect the successor to Süleyman DemirelSüleyman DemirelSami Süleyman Gündoğdu Demirel, better known as Süleyman Demirel , is a Turkish politician who served as Prime Minister seven times and was the ninth President of Turkey.-Life:Demirel was born in İslamköy, a town in Isparta Province...
Local elections
- September 3, 1950
- DPDemocratic Party (Turkey)Democratic Party may refer to:* Democratic Party , current party* Democratic Party a historical party * Democratic Party a historical party...
: 560 municipalities, - CHPRepublican People's Party (Turkey)The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
: 40 municipalities.
- DP
- April 18, 1999
- March 28, 2004
- AK PartyJustice and Development Party (Turkey)The Justice and Development Party , abbreviated JDP in English and AK PARTİ or AKP in Turkish, is a centre-right political party in Turkey. The party is the largest in Turkey, with 327 members of parliament...
: 41.6%, - CHPRepublican People's Party (Turkey)The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
: 18.2% - MHP : 10.4%
- DYP : 9.9%
- AK Party
- March 22, 2009: see Turkish local elections, 2009Turkish local elections, 2009Turkey held local elections on 29 March 2009. The overal winner was the ruling party Justice and Development Party, although the party saw a decline in its vote relative to the 2007 general election...
- AK PartyJustice and Development Party (Turkey)The Justice and Development Party , abbreviated JDP in English and AK PARTİ or AKP in Turkish, is a centre-right political party in Turkey. The party is the largest in Turkey, with 327 members of parliament...
: 38.9%, - CHPRepublican People's Party (Turkey)The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
: 23.2% - MHP : 16.1%
- AK Party
Referendums
- Turkish constitutional referendum, 1982Turkish constitutional referendum, 1982A constitutional referendum was held in Turkey on 23 October 1982. The changes were approved by 91.4% of voters, with a 91.3% turnout.-Background:...
- Turkish constitutional referendum, 2007Turkish constitutional referendum, 2007A constitutional referendum on electoral reform took place in Turkey on 21 October 2007. After the aborted attempt to elect the next president in May 2007, the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan introduced substantial electoral reforms in parliament which were then passed with the votes of...
- Turkish constitutional referendum, 2010Turkish constitutional referendum, 2010A constitutional referendum on a number of changes to the constitution was held in Turkey on 12 September 2010. The results showed the majority supported the constitutional amendments, with 58% in favour and 42% against. The changes were aimed at bringing the constitution into compliance with...
See also
- Electoral calendar
- Electoral system
- List of Turkish elections