El marc polític de Turquia

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (since August 2014) - AKP
Head of Government:  President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (since 9 July 2019 - a 2017 constitutional referendum eliminated the post of prime minister after the 2018 general election)

Next Election Dates

Presidential: June 2023
Legislative: June 2023

Current Political Context

The political scene is being dominated by the upcoming elections, which will take place in May 2023, resulting in polarization within the society.
On the international level, Turkey is embroiled in several regional conflicts (including in Syria, Libya, and Iraq) and its relations with the West are tumultuous. Furthermore, Turkey has played an important diplomatic role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with the country brokering a vital grain export deal signed in Istanbul in July. Although being part of NATO (with the second largest army of the Alliance after the U.S.), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tried to maintain a neutral stance towards Russia and there have been tensions inside the Alliance as Turkey opposed Finland and Sweden's talks to join NATO: in January 2023 Erdogan claimed that the two Nordic countries should deport or extradite up to 130 Kurdish considered "terrorists" by its government before the Turkish parliament will approve their bids to join NATO.
Turkey has restored its relations with the United Arab Emirates and the two countries have signed 13 cooperation agreements in various sectors as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited the Gulf country in February 2022. Furthermore, Erdogan had formal meetings with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman in an effort to normalize diplomatic relations with the Gulf country, while Turkey also agreed to restore full diplomatic relations with Israel.

Main Political Parties

- 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
- Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP): pro-minority, left-wing, socialist and democratic
- Nationalist Movement Party (MHP): nationalist party, allied ot the AKP
- The Good Party (IYI): Nationalist, Conservatist

Executive Power

The President of the Republic is the head of state and the head of the government. He or she is elected by direct universal suffrage for a five-year term of office. The President has the function of an arbitrator (promulgation of laws, signature of decrees) and appoints the Council of Ministers. The President also appoints the judicial organs and other governmental organs. The position of Prime Minister was abolished following the constitutional referendum of 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