Decoding the Turkey Elections: A Comprehensive Analysis

Introduction

Turkey is a country that has been in the news for a lot of political issues in recent times. One of the most talked-about issues is the Turkish elections. Turkey has a unique political system, which makes its election process different from that of other countries. In this blog post, we will discuss the top ten facts about Turkey's elections.

Voting System

The Turkish voting system is a closed-list proportional representation system. This system means that each political party puts forward a list of candidates, and the voters choose a party rather than an individual. The number of seats each party gets in parliament is based on the percentage of votes they receive. This system can sometimes lead to a lack of accountability as the voters do not choose individual candidates.

The President's Role

In Turkey, the President is the head of state and is elected by popular vote. The President's role is mostly ceremonial, but they have some executive powers, such as the ability to veto legislation. The President can also call for early parliamentary elections if they deem it necessary.

Campaigning and Media Coverage

Political parties are allowed to campaign freely during the election period. However, the media coverage of the campaign is often biased towards the ruling party. The opposition parties have limited access to media coverage, which can make it difficult for them to get their message across to the voters.

Voter Turnout

The voter turnout in Turkey's elections has been steadily decreasing over the years. In the 2018 parliamentary elections, the voter turnout was around 86%, which is a significant drop from the 91% voter turnout in the 2015 elections. The low voter turnout can be attributed to a lack of faith in the political system and a feeling of disillusionment among the voters.

Women in Politics

Turkey has a low representation of women in politics. Despite the fact that women make up almost half of the population, only around 17% of the parliament is made up of women. In the 2018 elections, only one political party, the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), had a gender-balanced list of candidates.

The Role of the Military

The military has played a significant role in Turkish politics over the years. In the past, military coups were common in Turkey, and the military often intervened in politics to protect the secular nature of the state. However, in recent years, the military's role has been reduced, and they have stayed out of politics.

Election Results

The AKP (Justice and Development Party) has been in power in Turkey since 2002. In the 2018 parliamentary elections, the AKP won 42.6% of the votes, making them the largest party in parliament. However, they lost their majority in the parliament for the first time since they came to power.

Voter ID

In Turkey, voters are required to carry a Voter ID card when they go to vote. The Voter ID card is issued by the government and contains the voter's photograph, name, and address. This system helps to prevent voter fraud and ensures that only eligible voters can cast their vote.

Election Observers

Turkey allows international election observers to monitor its elections. These observers are usually representatives from other countries or international organizations such as the European Union. The observers ensure that the election is free and fair and that the results are accurate.

Conclusion

Turkey's election system is unique, and it has its own set of challenges. Despite these challenges, the country has made progress in recent years towards a more democratic system. However, there is still a long way to go before Turkey can be considered a fully democratic country. We hope that this blog post has helped you to understand some of the key facts about Turkey's elections.