2007 Turkish general election

Turkey's 16th general election is scheduled to be held on 4 November 2007, at the end of a full five-year term.

Possible early elections

Turkish media reports that the elections could also be held two months early, on either 2 September or 9 September.[1] The first round of the April presidential election has been challenged in court, if it is ruled invalid, an early general election would have to be called.

Significance

The election will come in the aftermath of Turkey's presidential election, scheduled for May 2007, and will see the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) hoping to secure its position as the single party government. The Republican People's Party (CHP), a center-left party, will be looking forward to form a single party, or most likely a coalition government.

Factor of the military

In April 28, 2007, in advance of the November 4, 2007 presidential election, and in reaction to the politics of Abdullah Gul, the army issued a statement of its interests. It said that the army is a party to "arguments" about secularism. It said that Islamism ran counter to the secular nature of the Turkish republic, and to the legacy of "Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk." It statement closed with a veiled warning that the Turkish Armed Forces stood ready to intercede in politics, "The Turkish Armed Forces maintain their sound determination to carry out their duties stemming from laws to protect the unchangeable characteristics of the Republic of Turkey. Their loyalty to this determination is absolute." [2] [3]

The Turkish Armed Forces has had a record of intervening in politics, as recently as 1997.

See Politics of Turkey and Turkish Armed Forces.

Change in age requirement for parliament candidates

According to a recent change in election, minimum age for candidates for parliament is reduced to 25 from 30.

10% barrier

According to Turkish election laws, a party must gain at least 10% of national vote to be represented in the Grand Assembly. This law is aimed to prevent a highly fragmented parliament. Many parties that failed to cross this barrier in the last election will seek a return.

Alliances

The barrier of 10% forces minor and medium sized parties to form alliances. The first official offer came from Liberal Democratic Party who offered an alliance to nine political parties both from left and right wings, including Motherland Party and Democratic Left Party.^[1]

Opinion Polls

e • d **Summary of the February 2007 SONAR Turkey opinion poll**
Parties		Votes
Parties		Share (%)	+/− (%)
	Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi)	31.58
	Republican People's Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi)	14.76
	Nationalist Movement Party (Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi)	13.67
	True Path Party (Doğru Yol Partisi)	13.06
	Youth Party (Genç Parti)	6.90
	Democratic Left Party (Demokratik Sol Parti)	6.70
	Democratic Society Party (Demokratik Toplum Partisi)	4.37
	Motherland Party (Anavatan Partisi)	4.10
	Great Union Party (Büyük Birlik Partisi)	1.50
	Social Democratic People's Party (Sosyaldemokrat Halk Partisi)	1.37
	Other	1.98
Source: SONAR Araştırma (Results are after distribution of undecided votes)

e • d **Summary of the November 2006 SONAR Turkey opinion poll**
Parties		Votes
Parties		Share (%)	+/− (%)
	Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi)	27.61	-6.67
	Republican People's Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi)	18.32	-1.08
	True Path Party (Doğru Yol Partisi)	13.26	+3,71
	Nationalist Movement Party (Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi)	13.04	+4,7
	Democratic Left Party (Demokratik Sol Parti)	8.14	+6,92
	Youth Party (Genç Parti)	5.23	-2,02
	Motherland Party (Anavatan Partisi)	5.01	-0.12
	Democratic Society Party (Demokratik Toplum Partisi)	4.24	-1.99
	Social Democratic People's Party (Sosyaldemokrat Halk Partisi)	2.09	+2.09
	Other	3.06
Source: SONAR Araştırma

e • d **Summary of the 23 July 2006 TNS Piar Turkey opinion poll**
Parties		Votes
Parties		Share (%)	+/− (%)
	Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi)	38.60	+4.32
	Republican People's Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi)	11.90	-7.50
	True Path Party (Doğru Yol Partisi)	7.30	-2.25
	Nationalist Movement Party (Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi)	5.80	-2.54
	Democratic Society Party (Demokratik Toplum Partisi)	5.70	-0.53
	Motherland Party (Anavatan Partisi)	3.70	-1.43
	Youth Party (Genç Parti)	3.50	-3.75
	Democratic Left Party (Demokratik Sol Parti)	2.00	+0.78
	Felicity Party (Saadet Partisi)	1.60	-0.88
	Great Union Party (Büyük Birlik Partisi)	0.60	-0.34
	Freedom and Solidarity Party (Özgürlük ve Dayanışma Partisi)	0.30	-0.04
Results do not include a 33.9% block of people polled who said they were undecided. Source: Sabah

References

^ Süter, Şakir (November 2, 2006). "LDP'den ittifak (Alliance from LDP, Turkish)". Akşam. Retrieved 2007-03-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

CNN Turk article (in Turkish)

[alliance_offer_from_LDP-1] Süter, Şakir (November 2, 2006). "LDP'den ittifak (Alliance from LDP, Turkish)". Akşam. Retrieved 2007-03-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

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