Politics of Turkey

Lore & Background

Turkey’s political system operates as a constitutional republic with a presidential system, built on a clear separation of powers. Executive authority rests with the Council of Ministers, appointed and led by the President, who acts as both head of state and head of government. Legislative power belongs to the unicameral Grand National Assembly, composed of 600 members elected from 81 provinces for five-year terms. Elections use a mitigated proportional representation system with a 7% national threshold for party representation; independent candidates may win seats without meeting this threshold. The Assembly makes laws, debates and adopts budgets, declares war, approves treaties, proclaims amnesty and pardon, and can impeach sitting government members. The President serves as commander-in-chief, can veto legislation (subject to parliamentary override), and issues decrees on executive matters, though parliamentary laws take precedence over such decrees. The judiciary is independent, with four supreme courts: the Constitutional Court (constitutional review and individual human rights applications), the Court of Cassation (final ordinary appeals), the Council of State (final administrative appeals), and the Court of Jurisdictional Disputes. Judges of the Constitutional Court are appointed by the President and Parliament. Courts have no jury; judges decide based on evidence and law. Minor cases are heard by a single justice of the peace, while major civil and criminal cases go to three-judge courts of first instance, with appeals possible. The current constitution was adopted on 7 November 1982. Major revisions in 2017 abolished the prime minister position, transforming the system from parliamentary to presidential. Suffrage is universal for citizens aged 18 and older. The system is highly centralized, though Turkey is obligated under the Council of Europe to implement local self-government, a process with noted deficits.

Reader's Guide

The 2017 constitutional reforms marked a significant shift in Turkish governance, abolishing the Prime Minister position and concentrating executive authority in the presidency. This change, approved by referendum on 16 April 2017, effectively transformed Turkey from a parliamentary system to a presidential one. The political landscape is characterized by a multi-party system with parties ranging from center-right to far-right and center-left to far-left. Major parties include the Justice and Development Party (AK PARTY), Republican People's Party (CHP), and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Elections are held for presidential, parliamentary, and local offices, with a 7% election threshold for parliamentary representation. The system remains highly centralized, though Turkey is obligated to implement the European Charter of Local Self-Government. The constitution is built on Kemalist principles including republicanism, nationalism, laicism, statism, and reformism, while mainstream parties often embrace nationalism, conservatism, or social democracy.

Did You Know?

• Major constitutional revisions in 2017 abolished the position of Prime Minister and designated the President as both head of state and government.