Parliamentary elections in Turkey explained

Parliamentary elections in Turkey determine the composition of the Grand National Assembly for the next five years.[1] The members are elected for a five-year term through a proportional system in 87 multi-member constituencies with closed party lists or as independent candidates.

Participation

Age of candidacy

The age of candidacy was 30 in the newly established Republic of Turkey. The age of candidacy dropped from 30 to 25 through a constitutional amendment in 2006.[2] Following the 2017 constitutional referendum, it was further lowered to 18.[3]

Voting age

According to the Constitution of the Ottoman Empire (1876), the voting age was 25. In the newly established Republic of Turkey, the voting age was reduced to 18 due to the decreasing population. The voting age was increased to 22 in 1934, decreased to 21 in 1987, and 18 in 1995.[4]

Voter turnout

The voter turnout for the average of 18 parliamentary election is 81.4%. Turkey has a high voter turnout rate compared to other democracies. The participation rate in Turkey is also higher than the participation rates in countries where compulsory voting is loosely applied. With the exception of 1960–1970, voter turnout rate in Turkey is above the world average from 1950 to the present in Turkey.[5]

Voter turnout at parliamentary elections! Election
year !! Registered
voters !! Total
votes !! Turnout
8,905,743 7,953,085 89.3
10,262,063 9,095,617 88.6
12,078,623 9,250,949 76.6
12,925,395 10,522,716 81.4
13,679,753 9,748,678 71.3
14,788,552 9,516,035 64.3
16,798,164 11,223,843 66.8
21,207,303 15,358,210 72.4
19,767,366 18,238,362 92.3
26,376,926 24,603,541 93.3
29,979,123 25,157,089 83.9
34,155,981 29,101,469 85.2
37,495,217 32,656,070 87.1
41,407,027 32,768,161 79.1
42,799,303 36,056,293 84.2
52,806,322 43,914,948 83.2
56,608,817 47,507,467 83.9
56,949,009 48,537,695 85.2
59,367,469 51,189,444 86.2
60,721,745 55,835,895 87.1

Electoral system

Electoral districts

Turkey is split into 87 electoral districts, which elect a certain number of representatives to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Electoral district are allocated a certain number of MPs in proportion to their population. The Supreme Electoral Council of Turkey conducts population reviews of each district before an election and adjusts a district's number of seats according to the latest census.

Number of parliamentary constituencies by province and year
Election
year
20th century21st century
'20'23'27'31'35'39'43'46'50'54'57'61'65'69'73'77'83'87'91'95'99'02'07'11'15'15'18'23
Total436333335348444470492503477537602450450450450450400450450550550550550550550550600600
Province
1 Adana734481110101113161213131314121414171414141414141515
2 Adıyaman54444444456555 5555
3 8 6 677888991077776566777755566
4 Ağrı5233443334533344444545544444
68 334 3444433344
5 7433334445644454443443333333
6 Ankara97811151615181821222121242629232623282829293132323636
7 Antalya6455888779977777789101213131414141617
75 23 222222222
8 Artvin1221044555533333332322222222
9 76567898581088777676888877788
10 6810101212131412141511111099787998888899
74 Bartın2322222222
72 Batman3444444455
Batum 5
69 2222212211
Biga 33
11 Bilecik5543355334422222222222222222
12 62 22223322222333333333333
13 Bitlis723 22322322222333444433333
14 85661088878866555555653333333
15 Burdur7222434334433332333333333333
16 7699121212131113141111111111101112141616161818182020
17 Çanakkale45566678855554444544444444
18 Çankırı7444866556644433333333322222
Çatalca 1
19 76567898891077776565655544444
20 65668910879977766566777777787
21 7764886778977777788101110101111111212
81 Düzce3333333
22 Edirne5344465556654444444444433344
23 Elazığ7677655555655555454555554455
Ergani 113
24 5333475755644433333433322222
25 1077712961110121399998777887766666
26 7444555767866665555666666676
26 6565107877810777887899910101212121414
Gelibolu 11
28 555779988866665554555544444
29 6453555676644443332222222222
30 6211 11111111111222233333333
31 55668977778798101010101010101111
76 222222222
32 6344455555544444444545544444
İçel 6222
34 12231718201928302529393131333844364550616970708588889898
35 8111212141517151620221717181819161919242424242626262828
46 Kahramanmaraş8554655677966677677898888888
78 Karabük333322233
70 Karaman2333322233
36 326581081010101299988665433333333
37 886891191110101077665444544433333
38 756510810999118888878798889991010
71 3444433333
39 Kırklareli333355555644433333433333333
40 7533454435433333333333322222
79 222222222
41 Kocaeli6677101013101112555455577910991111111314
42 10101314151515161719211616161616131413161616161414141515
Kozan 52
43 6871211101210108866655555666654455
Lazistan 6
44 1156691011121112966666666777766666
45 Manisa91010111213121212121411111110108991110101010991010
47 Mardin66537871077866666565666666666
33 7223578878977778799121212121111111313
48 Muğla11344666556755554455666666677
49 73 4422323433333343444443343
50 433333333333333333
51 6444778788755555553433333333
Oltu 2
52 5667889891088887676877765566
80 3253 44444444
53 666 66666644444443433333333
54 866665566766677778
55 Samsun6367991110101214111111101089911109999999
56 6222655444544444453333333333
57 6434655556644433333333322222
58 87771111151213141511111098776766655555
Siverek 64
63 565677677897767757891111111212121414
Şebinkarahisar5433
73 Şırnak3333344444
59 234556656644444444555566678
60 745689810991077777666767755555
61 Trabzon11789911111212121299988676878866666
62 Tunceli62 32223322222222222222221
64 4433333333333333333
65 7322334334534444455677788888
77 Yalova222222233
66 Yozgat7456777878966666555666644444
67 476101011910101299999897665555555
Total436333335348444470492503477537602450450450450450400450450550550550550550550550600600

Seats allocation

Parliamentary seats are allocated according to the d’Hondt method in a party-list proportional representation system.[6] Political parties first need to pass an electoral threshold of 7%. Parties can by-pass this rule by forming an electoral alliance or participate as independents. The electoral threshold was introduced by the military regime after the 1980 coup d'état, in a bid to maintain political stability.[7]

From 1946 onwards, all elections were direct elections. In the elections held between 1946 and 1957, a party block voting system was applied. Under this system, the party that obtained a plurality of votes in a constituency would get all the deputies in that constituency. The system resulted in a landslide victories. For example, the Democrat Party received 58% of the votes in the 1954 election, but won 93% of the seats in the parliament.

Proportional representation was used for the first time after the adoption of the Constitution of 1961. For the elections of 1961, a party-list proportional representation with the D'Hondt method in 67 constituencies was used. In order to receive seats in a constituency, parties needed to receive more votes in that constituency that the Hare quota. It was also the first time that the number of deputies was fixed and determined as 450 seats.

In the 1965 election, the national remnant system was used. In the elections held in 1969, 1973 and 1977, the d'Hondt electoral system was applied without a threshold. A nationwide electoral threshold of 10% and a constituency electoral threshold was introduced following the changes to the law in 1983. In addition to that, a quota system was also used in the 1987 and 1991 elections. From 1995 onwards, only a nationwide electoral threshold is used.[8]

Campaigning

The Law on Basic Provisions regulates the campaign and aims to ensure fair and equitable opportunities for contestants.[9] Turkish campaigns are typically energetic as contestants use a variety of traditional campaigning means such as rallies, campaign stands, posters, banners, party flags, canvassing and vehicles with loudspeakers. Languages other than Turkish as well as sign language are used in the campaigns. According to Turkish Law, it is forbidden to make election propaganda in a foreign country. This law can be circumvented to a certain degree by organizing "informative seminars" instead of "propaganda meetings".[10]

Political parties that received at least three per cent of votes in the last parliamentary elections are entitled to annual public funding on a proportional basis, as well as campaign funding but only for parliamentary elections. Parties also receive funding through membership fees and individual donations. Donations from public legal entities, state and public organizations and foreign sources are not allowed. An individual may donate up to a certain amount annually to a party. There is no ceiling for annual party and campaign-related expenditure. Parties declare their campaign funds solely through annual financial reports. The Constitutional Court audits the reports. Independent candidates declare their campaign funds through personal tax declarations. Possible sanctions for breaches include warnings, imprisonment from three months to three years, monetary fines and dissolution of the party.

Summary of past elections

The list below shows the election results of the multi-party period in Turkey since 1946.

ElectionFirst partySecond partyThird partyOther parties entering the parliamentCabinets formed
1946Republican People's Party
(İsmet İnönü)
?
395 MPs
Democrat Party
(Celal Bayar)
?
66 MPs
National Development PartyIndependent
4 MPs
Peker,
I. Saka,
II. Saka,
Günaltay
1950Democrat Party
(Celal Bayar)
52,67%
415 MPs
Republican People's Party
(İsmet İnönü)
39,45%
69 MPs
Nation Party
(Yusuf Hikmet Bayur)
3,11%
1 MPs
Independent
4,76%
2 MPs
I. Menderes,
II. Menderes
1954Democrat Party
(Adnan Menderes)
57,61%
502 MPs
Republican People's Party
(İsmet İnönü)
35,35%
31 MPs
Republican Nation Party
(Osman Bölükbaşı)
4,85%
5 MPs
Independent
1,53%
3 MPs
III. Menderes,
IV. Menderes
1957Democrat Party
(Adnan Menderes)
47,87%
424 MPs
Republican People's Party
(İsmet İnönü)
41,09%
178 MPs
Republican Nation Party
(Osman Bölükbaşı)
7,13%
4 MPs
Liberty Party
3,83%
4 MPs
V. Menderes
1961Republican People's Party
(İsmet İnönü)
36,72%
173 MPs
Justice Party
(Ragıp Gümüşpala)
34,78%
158 MPs
Republican Villagers Nation Party
(Osman Bölükbaşı)
13,95%
54 MPs
New Turkey Party
13,72%
65 MPs
VIII. İnönü,
IX. İnönü,
X. İnönü,
Ürgüplü
1965Justice Party
(Süleyman Demirel)
52,87%
240 MPs
Republican People's Party
(İsmet İnönü)
28,75%
134 MPs
Nation Party
(Osman Bölükbaşı)
6,26%
31 MPs
New Turkey Party (19 MPs)
Workers' Party of Turkey (14 MPs)
Republican Villagers Nation Party (11 MPs)
Independent (1 MPs)
I. Demirel
1969Justice Party
(Süleyman Demirel)
46,53%
256 MPs
Republican People's Party
(İsmet İnönü)
27,36%
143 MPs
Republican Reliance Party
(Turhan Feyzioğlu)
6,57%
15 MPs
Independent (13 MPs)
Birlik Partisi (8 MPs)
Nation Party (6 MPs)
New Turkey Party (6 MPs)
Workers' Party of Turkey (2 MPs)
Nationalist Movement Party (1 MPs)
II. Demirel,
III. Demirel,
I. Erim,
II. Erim,
Melen,
Talu
1973Republican People's Party
(Bülent Ecevit)
33,29%
185 MPs
Justice Party
(Süleyman Demirel)
29,82%
149 MPs
Democratic Party
(Ferruh Bozbeyli)
11,89%
45 MPs
National Salvation Party (48 MPs)
Republican Reliance Party (13 MPs)
Independent (6 MPs)
Nationalist Movement Party (3 MPs)
Unity Party (1 MPs)
I. Ecevit,
Irmak,
IV. Demirel
1977Republican People's Party
(Bülent Ecevit)
41,38%
213 MPs
Justice Party
(Süleyman Demirel)
36,87%
189 MPs
National Salvation Party
(Necmettin Erbakan)
8,56%
24 MPs
Nationalist Movement Party (16 MPs)
Independent (4 MPs)
Republican Reliance Party (3 MPs)
Democratic Party (1 MPs)
II. Ecevit,
V. Demirel,
III. Ecevit,
VI. Demirel,
Ulusu
1983Motherland Party
(Turgut Özal)
45,14%
211 MPs
Populist Party
(Necdet Calp)
30,46%
117 MPs
Nationalist Democracy Party
(Turgut Sunalp)
23,26%
71 MPs
I. Özal
1987Motherland Party
(Turgut Özal)
36,31%
292 MPs
Social Democratic Populist Party
(Erdal İnönü)
24,74%
99 MPs
True Path Party
(Süleyman Demirel)
19,13%
59 MPs
II. Özal,
Akbulut,
I. Yılmaz
1991True Path Party
(Süleyman Demirel)
27,03%
178 MPs
Motherland Party
(Mesut Yılmaz)
24,01%%
115 MPs
Social Democratic Populist Party
(Erdal İnönü)
20,75%
88 MPs
Welfare Party (62 MPs)
Democratic Left Party (7 MPs)
VII. Demirel,
I. Çiller,
II. Çiller,
III. Çiller,
II. Yılmaz
1995Welfare Party
(Necmettin Erbakan)
21,38%
158 MPs
Motherland Party
(Mesut Yılmaz)
19,65%
132 MPs
True Path Party
(Tansu Çiller)
19,18%
135 MPs
Democratic Left Party (76 MPs)
Republican People's Party (49 MPs)
Erbakan,
III. Yılmaz,
IV. Ecevit
1999Democratic Left Party
(Bülent Ecevit)
22,19%
136 MPs
Nationalist Movement Party
(Devlet Bahçeli)
17,98%
129 MPs
Virtue Party
(Recai Kutan)
15,41%
111 MPs
Motherland Party (86 MPs)
True Path Party (85 MPs)
Independent (3 MPs)
V. Ecevit
2002Justice and Development Party
(Recep Tayyip Erdoğan)
34,28%
363 MPs
Republican People's Party
(Deniz Baykal)
19,41%
178 MPs
True Path Party
(Tansu Çiller)
9,54%
0 MPs
Independent
1,00%
9 MPs
Gül,
I. Erdoğan
2007Justice and Development Party
(Recep Tayyip Erdoğan)
46,66%
341 MPs
Republican People's Party
(Deniz Baykal)
20,85%
112 MPs
Nationalist Movement Party
(Devlet Bahçeli)
14,29%
71 MPs
Independent
5,24%
26 MPs
II. Erdoğan
2011Justice and Development Party
(Recep Tayyip Erdoğan)
49,83%
327 MPs
Republican People's Party
(Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu)
25,98%
135 MPs
Nationalist Movement Party
(Devlet Bahçeli)
13,01%%
53 MPs
Independent
6,57%
35 MPs
III. Erdoğan,
I. Davutoğlu
2015
Justice and Development Party
(Ahmet Davutoğlu)
40,87%
258 MPs
Republican People's Party
(Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu)
24,95%
132 MPs
Nationalist Movement Party
(Devlet Bahçeli)
16,29%
80 MPs
Peoples' Democratic Party
13,12%
80 MPs
II. Davutoğlu
2015
Justice and Development Party
(Ahmet Davutoğlu)
49,49%
317 MPs
Republican People's Party
(Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu)
25,31%
134 MPs
Nationalist Movement Party
(Devlet Bahçeli)
11,90%
40 MPs
Peoples' Democratic Party
10,76%
59 MPs
III. Davutoğlu,
Yıldırım
2018Justice and Development Party
(Recep Tayyip Erdoğan)
42,49%
295 MPs
Republican People's Party
(Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu)
22,65%
146 MPs
Peoples' Democratic Party
(Sezai Temelli ve Pervin Buldan)
11,70%
67 MPs
Nationalist Movement Party
11,10% (49 MPs)
İYİ Parti
9,96% (43 MPs)
IV. Erdoğan
2023Justice and Development Party
(Recep Tayyip Erdoğan)
35,62%
268 MPs
Republican People's Party
(Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu)
25,35%
169 MPs
Nationalist Movement Party
(Devlet Bahçeli)
10,07%
50 MPs
Good Party
9,69% (43 MPs)
Green Left Party
8,82% (61 MPs)
New Welfare Party
2,80% (5 MPs)
Workers' Party of Turkey
1,76% (4 MPs)
V. Erdoğan

By-elections

By-elections in Turkey are regulated in accordance with Article 7 of the Law on Parliamentary Elections. Accordingly, by-elections are held in case of a vacancy in the membership of the Parliament. According to the constitution, by-elections are held once in each election period, and by-elections cannot be held unless 30 months have passed and 1 year before the parliamentary elections. However, if a province or constituency does not have any members in the Parliament, by-elections are held in that constituency on the first Sunday after 90 days following the vacancy.[11]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Chughtai . Alia . All you need to know about Turkish election . 24 June 2018 . 2 April 2023 . Al Jazeera . en . 2 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230402195128/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/6/24/turkey-election-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-june-24-polls . live .
  2. News: EASO Country of Origin Information Report . 2 April 2023 . European Asylum Support Office . 1 November 2016 . 2 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230402195152/https://viedifuga.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/TurchiaCountry-report_EASO-11_2016.pdf . live .
  3. News: Ašimović Akyol . Riada . Will Turkey allow 18-year-old members of parliament? - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East . 2 April 2023 . www.al-monitor.com . 5 April 2017 . en . 2 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230402195152/https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2017/04/turkey-to-allow-18-year-old-deputies-in-parliament.html . live .
  4. News: Akca . Furkan . Seçme ve seçilme yaşı . 2 April 2023 . Doğrula . 13 June 2022 . tr . 25 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220925083611/https://www.dogrula.org/dogrulamalar/secme-ve-secilme-yasinin-ak-parti-iktidari-doneminde-30dan-18e-indirildigi-iddiasi/ . live .
  5. Çaylak . Adem . Voter turnout in Turkey: a cross-national comparison . Journal of International Social Research . 25 October 2017 . 10 . 52 . 352–351 . 10.17719/jisr.2017.1897 . 30 April 2021 . en. free .
  6. News: How Turkey's Parliamentary Elections Work . 2 April 2023 . 26 October 2015 . 28 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230528005141/https://carnegieendowment.org/2015/10/26/how-turkey-s-parliamentary-elections-work-pub-61744 . live .
  7. News: Turkey reduces election threshold to 7 percent - Türkiye News . 2 April 2023 . Hürriyet Daily News . 1 April 2022 . Ankara . en . 19 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230319174042/https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-parliament-approves-election-law-changes-172648 . live .
  8. Book: Cop . Burak . Electoral systems in Turkey . 2017 . İstanbul . 978-605-2380-18-5 . 1st . 7 April 2023 . 21 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230521100547/https://www.librakitap.com.tr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=386&Itemid=105 . live .
  9. Web site: Observation Mission Final Report . OSCE . 2 April 2023 . 24 June 2018 . 21 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210421123118/https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/9/4/397046_0.pdf . live .
  10. News: Şen . Ersan . Yurtdışında Seçim Propagandası Yasağı . 2 April 2023 . Hukuki Haber . 10 March 2017 . tr . 2 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230402195154/https://www.hukukihaber.net/yurtdisinda-secim-propagandasi-yasagi . live .
  11. Web site: Milletvekili Seçimi Kanunu . www.anayasa.gen.tr . 2 April 2023 . 16 October 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20041016215011/https://www.anayasa.gen.tr/2839sk.htm . live .