El marc polític de Turquia

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President and head of government: Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 28 August 2014)

Next Election Dates

Presidential: 2028
Legislative: May 2028

Current Political Context

Turkey held presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14, 2023. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its allies won a majority in the parliamentary elections, but President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (who has been in charge since 2014) fell short of an outright majority in the presidential elections. A second round was held on May 28, which Erdoğan won by a narrow margin.
In local elections which were held in March 2024, the Republican People's Party (CHP) achieved notable victories, winning key municipalities, including Istanbul, where Ekrem İmamoğlu was re-elected as mayor. This outcome was considered a major setback for Erdoğan and the ruling AKP.
Concerning foreign policy, Turkey, the United States, and the European Union remain committed to ongoing diplomatic engagement despite current challenges. The Turkish Foreign Minister's participation in an informal EU Foreign Ministers' meeting in August 2024, following a five-year absence, signalled the possibility of renewed momentum in EU-Turkey relations. In terms of U.S. foreign policy, the Trump administration's approach will play a crucial role in shaping ties with Turkey. Despite differing views on key issues such as the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the war in Israel, stabilizing factors like NATO membership and Turkey's regional influence may foster a more stable relationship. On the other hand, Turkey's talks with BRICS reflected its pursuit of alternatives to the stalled EU accession process: in October 2024, Erdogan attended a BRICS leaders' summit hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan, after Ankara said it had taken formal steps to become a member of the group, and the country was offered partner country status by the organization. The ties with Russia, ranging from energy to the grain corridor, are expected to continue. However, these relations could be strained by Ankara's involvement in the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. In fact, evidence suggests that Turkey played a pivotal role in the operation that ousted the Russia-backed government, likely offering training and material support to key rebel groups, including the Syrian National Army (SNA) and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Main Political Parties

The main political parties represented in the Turkish parliament are:

- Justice and Development Party (AKP): centre-right, primary leading party, socially conservative
- Republican People’s Party (CHP): centre-left, primary opposition party based on social-republican values
- Labour and Freedom Alliance: left-wing electoral alliance, formed by Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), Labour Party (EMEP), Labourist Movement Party (EHP), Social Freedom Party (TÖP) and Federation of Socialist Assemblies (SMF)
- New Path (NP): centre-right to right-wing, political alliance between the Felicity Party (SP), Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA) and the Future Party (GP)
- Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM): pro-Kurdish, left-libertarian, formerly known as Party of the Greens and the Left Future
- Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP): pro-minority, left-wing, socialist and democratic
- Nationalist Movement Party (MHP): nationalist party, allied with the AKP
- The Good Party (IYI): nationalist, conservative, Kemalist
- New Welfare Party (YRP): far-right, conservative, Islamist
- Workers' Party of Turkey (TIP): socialist, left to far-left.

Executive Power

The President of Turkey serves as both the head of state and head of government, elected by direct universal suffrage for a five-year term. The President acts as an arbitrator by promulgating laws and signing decrees, while also appointing the Council of Ministers, judicial authorities, and other governmental bodies. The office of Prime Minister was abolished after the constitutional referendum in April 2017.

Legislative Power

Legislative power in Turkey is unicameral. The Parliament, called the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, has 600 seats and its members are elected by universal suffrage for five years, according to a system of proportional representation.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

153/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Partly Free

Political Freedom:

5/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House