Political Parties in Turkey: From 2010 Referendum to 2011 June Elections

By Hüseyin Kocabıyık & Mahmut Övür & Ruşen Çakır & Yaşar Taşkın Koç

SETA Policy Brief, No. 52, May 2011

Debates on the changing political landscape in the run up to the 2011 elections are of critical importance for the future the Turkey.

Recently a fundamental change has been taking place in the Turkish political landscape. Political actors as well as domestic and foreign policy options are undergoing a transformation in the country. The general elections on 22 July 2007 and the constitutional referendum on 12 September 2010 not only crystallized these changes but also indicated what the new orientation might look like. Following the referendum all political parties promised a new constitution. The promise of the new constitution raises expectations from the general elections on 12 June 2011 to build a “new Turkey.” As a result of the debates on the new constitution and the new Turkey, political parties prepared their election manifesto for the 2011 elections according to their 2023 targets. Political parties made their economic and political promises with respect to 2023, that is the centenary of Turkish Republic. People are longing for a new Turkey free from its problems as large scale centenary celebrations are expected to take place in 2023.

Debates on the changing political landscape in the run up to the 2011 elections and the promises for new Constitution in the aftermath of the elections are of critical importance for the future the Turkey. This report provides an up-to-date analysis of how current political parties contribute to debates on political questions and constitutional expectations. The report also shows how political actors in Turkey perceive social and political transformations in this critical period when the fundamental political dynamics of the Republic are undergoing significant changes.

This report consists of English summaries of the analyses written in Turkish for SETA by journalists who are well known experts in their fields. The report focuses on four major political parties in Turkey: The Peace and Democracy Party (Barış ve Demokrasi Partisi), The Nationalist Movement Party (Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi), The Republican People’s Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi) and The Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi).