The Electoral System of Turkey

The Electoral System of Turkey

International Islamic University of Malaysia
IIUM
Introduction to Political Science
PSCI 1010
Section 7
Marzuki Mohamad
25 April 2016

The Electoral System of Turkey

Introduction
This assignment aims in providing some brief study on Turkeys electoral system. The
first part will focus on historical background of Turkey. During the Ottoman, among the
Khalifahs ruling Turkey were Osman I (1299) and Mehmed the Conqueror whom conquest the
Constantinople bringing Golden Era of Turkey under Ottoman Empire. Among other empire
ruled Turkey before the Ottoman Empire were the Great Hun Empire (3rd Century B.C.), the
Gokturk Empire (552-740 B.C.), the Uygur Empire (741-840 B.C.) and others. The Ottoman
Empire lasted for 623 years until the end of the First World War. Eventually, the era of Modern
Turkey came when Mustafa Kamal Atarturk played his role developing Turkey for a democratic
nation. This period is where the electoral system of Turkey began to evolve.
The second part will emphasis on Electoral System of Turkey. Turkey electoral system
consists of three part; general, presidential and local elections which happens every four years.
Turkey using format of proposal reform to establish right to ruling. Then this assignment will
identify electoral districts of Turkey. Turkey is divided into 85 electoral districts comply into
electing Members of the Grand Nationals Assembly of Turkey. Having 550 seats, the Supreme
Electoral Council of Turkey has the demand of conducting population research of each districts
affecting the number of seat possess according to numbers of electorate (the choosers) in each
districts.
The last part will describing the government behavior during elections season in Turkey.
It was heard the Turkey government will close the citizens link to social media such as
Facebook and YouTube giving peace platform for both the competing leaders and the
government to express their campaigns and avoiding nuisance critics from the people. This

The Electoral System of Turkey

concept of restricting freedom of voice surely is different from Malaysia. The conclusion will
recapture the whole assignment and come out with brief opinions.
Part 1: Historical Background of Turkey
Time frame of rulings in Turkey covers the length of 4000 years. Started in Central Asia
around 2000 B.C. some left the Central Asia and separated into many states and empires
independent from one another. These independent states and empires covers mainly a vast area of
Asia and Europe. These empires included The Great Hun Empire (established during the 3rd
Century B.C.), the Gktrk Empire (552- 740 B.C.), the Uygur Empire (741- 840 B.C.), the Avar
Empire (6-9 Century A.D.), the Hazar Empire (5-10 Century A.D), the Great Seljuk Empire
(1040- 1157 A.D.), and many others.
Turkey in Anatolia
The people of Turkey started to migrate to Anatolia after facing invasions from the
Malazgirt. This movement happened around 11th century and majorly caused after the Malazgirt
victory during year 1071. The Malazgirt managed to defeats the Byzantines thus affecting the
opening of gates to Anatolia for the people of Turkey. Began to evolve, the people of Turkey
began to rule over Anatolia creating the Anatolian Seljuk State (1080-1308). The Anatolian
Seljuk State was the first Turkey state in Anatolia. After a long time, the empire was called the
Konya Sultanate embracing the name of its capital city.
Ottoman Empire
The Anatolian Seljuk State begins to decline from year 1243 when facing defeats from
the Mongolian invasion. During periods of declines, many people of Turkey started to form their
own rulings Turcoman principalities in many different areas in Anatolia until the end of 13th

The Electoral System of Turkey

century. One of the Turcoman principalities was Ottoman Empire. Created by Osman, one of the
ruler in Turkey. The Ottoman Empire expanded through 3 continents and eventually declines
through First World War. The Ottoman Empire lasted for 623 years.
The Ottoman defeats Constantinople thus ruled over it in the year of 1453. The
overthrown were directed by Sultan Mehmet II (1451-1481). Byzantine Empire also falls denotes
the end of Middle ages and beginning of the New Age. During the time of Sultan Mehmet, the
Ottoman Empire faced rapid development until the 16th century. The Ottoman under Sultan
Mehmet covers Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Albania and Romania in the Balkans extending
over the area of all islands in the Eastern Mediterranean, and covering the Middle East. This was
how broad the Turkey once before.
The era of the Ottoman began to falls when facing difficulties in adapting with new
development concerning modern diplomacy and exchanging technologies. The Ottoman
eventually defeated by European in economic terms and military superiority. The European
developed rapidly when facing Renaissance contributed in their conquest for new territories and
surfacing new sources of raw materials.
Plus, having the Balkan rebellions in the 19th century worsen the conditions of the
Ottoman survival. The Balkan nation called themselves as the nationalist and received
foundations from Russia and Europe. This was a collaboration to defeat the Ottoman Empire.
World War 1 (1914-1918)
The Ottoman Empire lost in WW1 affecting them to sign the Mondros Armistice on
October 30 1918. Under the Mondros Armistice treaty, the Ottoman territories dividedly

The Electoral System of Turkey

occupied by Britain, France, Russia, and Greece. This was the declining mark of the Ottoman
Empire.
After that, came Mustafa Kamal, an Ottoman military commander. He uniting the
resistance groups in Anatolia and emerging a structured army. Under the leadership of Mustafa
Kamal, the people of Turkey abled to fight for their own sovereignty. Later, Mustafa Kamal was
called the Atarturk (father of Turkey). Mustafa Kamal Atarturk formed a war called The Turkish
National Liberation War. This war was in efforts to establish rights for people of Turkey to have
their own country. Under this war, Lausanne Peace Treaty on July 24, 1923 were signed by
Mustafa Kamal Atarturk with Great Britain, France, Greece, Italy and others. The treaty
confirmed to recognized borders of Turkey and guaranteed its own independence.
Republic of Turkey
The Republic of Turkey was established on October 29, 1923. The people of Turkey
finally have their own rights to justify their rulings on Turkey. Mustafa Kamal Atarturk was
elected as the first president.
Mustafa Kamal Atarturk ruled for 15 years. He introduced new principles of political,
social, legal, economic jurisprudence. He tried to becoming like the Western and propose secular
principles in managing Republic of Turkey.
The first Grand National Assembly under command of Mustafa Kamal Atarturk opposed
to create a new political and legal system from the Westerns foundations of many aspects, such
as parliamentary democracy component, human rights acts, national sovereignty principle,
private ownership basis and secularism between religions and state affairs.

The Electoral System of Turkey

A secular education system emerged, separating religions from knowledge. Trying to be

more like Western, the Arabic alphabets changed into Latin. Mustafa Kamal Atarturk also
adopted Europeans models in managing new civil and criminal codes avoiding shariah rulings in
official courts.
Besides that, women received right for elections and rights to possess position as public
officer which at that time, put Turkey ahead of many Western nations in terms of Womens
Rights. It was a revolution, creating disseminate cracks for new ideologies and emergence for
new principles and all the basis in ruling the Republic of Turkey, also affecting its Electoral
System.
Part 2: Electoral System of Turkey
The election system in Turkey divided in 6 principles, which are general, equal, secret
and direct voting, universal suffrage, public counting and tally of the votes. Every provinces exist
in Turkey are subjected to electoral system. Turkey has 85 provinces means 85 districts. The
Grand National Assembly possess around 550 seats with every provinces subjected to (D'Hondt
method) a fixed number of seats in the Assembly accordingly to ratio of citizens proportions.
Next, Turkey has its own Supreme Electoral Council of Turkey commanded in making
population research of each provinces and possess the demand to increase or decrease the
Assembly seats occupied by any provinces. Means, any individual live in Turkey but did not
apply for citizenship will fail to accord electorate status thus cannot comply their rights to vote
during any elections exist. Turkey is using unicameral formats under The Grand National
Assembly.

The Electoral System of Turkey

Any political parties failed to obtain 10% votes in general elections are not allowed to
attain any rights in board of parliament. Candidates of elections must be older than 40 years old
and have completed stages of professional education. Provinces fight for 19 to 36 seats are
divided into two electoral provinces. Provinces fighting for above 36 seats are divided into three
electoral provinces. Turkey has three largest countries, Izmir, Ankara and Istanbul. Izmir and
Ankara are divided into two electoral provinces while Istanbul is divided into three electoral
provinces. Below is the table stating electoral provinces in Turkey.
Provinces
Adana
Adyaman
Afyonkarahisar
Ar
Aksaray
Amasya
Ankara (I)
Ankara (II)
Antalya
Ardahan
Artvin
Aydn
Balkesir

Provinces
Krklareli
Krkkale
Krehir
Kocaeli
Konya
Ktahya
Malatya
Manisa
Mardin
Mersin
Mula
Mu
Nevehir

Seats
14
5
5
4
3
3
18
14
14
2
2
7
8

Seats
3
3
2
11
14
4
6
9
6
11
6
3
3

Provinces
Bartn
Batman
Bayburt
Bilecik
Bingl
Bitlis
Bolu
Burdur
Bursa
anakkale
ankr
orum
Denizli

Seats
2
4
2
2
3
3
3
3
18
4
2
4
7

Provinces
Nide
Ordu
Osmaniye
Rize
Sakarya
Samsun
Siirt
Sinop
Sivas
anlurfa
rnak
Tekirda
Tokat

Provinces
Diyarbakr
Dzce
Edirne
Elaz
Erzincan
Erzurum
Eskiehir
Gaziantep
Giresun
Gmhane
Hakkri
Hatay
Idr

Seats
3
5
4
3
7
9
3
2
5
12
4
6
5

Seats
11
3
3
4
2
6
6
12
4
2
3
10
2

Provinces
Isparta
stanbul (I)
stanbul (II)
stanbul (III)
zmir (I)
zmir (II)
Kahramanmara
Kars
Kastamonu
Karabk
Karaman
Kayseri
Kilis

Provinces
Trabzon
Tunceli
Uak
Van
Yalova
Yozgat
Zonguldak
Total

Seats
4
31
26
31
13
13
8
3
3
2
2
9
2

Seats
6
2
3
8
2
4
5
550

The Electoral System of Turkey

A general elections is the scope of election covering all of these provinces, after finished
with allocation of seats win by political parties, a presidential election will take over. A
presidential election in Turkey may commanded from a constitutional reform proposing direct
voting or elections by members of parliaments. A Presidential election shall take place within 60
days before the end of the five-year term of current president. Constitutional Court of Turkey has
changed the rule into allowing same president to be elected directly over for the second term,
also the Prime Minister to be elect as president does have no need to resign from the Prime
Minister original form.
The Presidential election will be held in American Manner means, each political
candidates allowed to receive personal donations. However, concluded with each dominator
cannot contributes more than 8,259 TL (approximately US$4,500). In order to be nominated, a
candidate need to have 20 votes from Members of Parliaments that has winning the general
elections. Regarding seats occupied by Members of Parliament, 276 wins are needed for
majority to surface, 367 are needed to change the constitution directly and 330 wins are needed
to surface a referendum altering the popular votes. The Supreme Electoral Council forbids any
self-nomination to avoid disadvantage regarding candidates occupying the Members of
Parliaments. The Supreme Electoral Council will hold the eligible candidates for position of new
President. To win the President position, a candidate must win majority votes from citizens of
Turkey (amendment in 2007). Before this amendment, the election of president demands on the
votes from Members of Parliaments of Turkey. After being officially elected, the President of
Turkey will clarify an oath specially designed for any candidate winning the President position.
Below is the oath.

The Electoral System of Turkey

In my capacity as President of the Republic, I swear upon my honor and repute before the
great Turkish nation and before history to safeguard the existence and independence of the state,
the indivisible integrity of country and nation, and the sovereignty of the nation without
restriction or stipulation; to abide by the Constitution, the rule of law, democracy, the principles
and reforms of Atatrk, and the principle of a secular republic; not to deviate from the ideal of
all enjoying human rights and basic freedoms in peace, prosperity and in a spirit of national
solidarity and justice; to preserve and enhance the glory and honor of the Republic of Turkey
and to work with all my strength to perform with impartiality the functions that I have assumed.
This oath will be held in front of all the Members of the Parliament. After a President
took place, the President will has the power to elect a person for Prime Ministers position.
These all are the steps in electoral system in Turkey. However, any changes are under the
power of Constitutional of Turkey. This assignment will now continue its focus into the Turkeys
government behavior during election seasons in Turkey.
Part 3: Government behavior during election season
For introduction, it was said the government of Turkey will decline the availability for
citizens internet line to interact within social media like Twitter and Facebook. This assignment
will try to go further upon this phenomena.
On 20 March 2014, access to twitter was blocked by government of Turkey. However, the
Istanbul Anatolia 18th Criminal Court of Peace demand to uplift the order. After that, a series of
the government of Turkey blocking access to Twitter were seen but in different period of time
and were not consistent and permanent. Usually the access to Twitter in Turkey were seems to be
blocked by the government are when several issues or occurrence were happened and being viral

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10

in Twitter thus affecting access to Twitter be blocked to prevent the images of Turkey
contaminated with that peculiar events. Some of the events are bombarding by citizens and
image of scandal among government officers. For example,
A car bomb tore through a crowded transport hub in Ankara on Sunday, killing at least
34 people and wounding 125 in the second such attack in the administrative heart of the city in
under a month.
The blast, which could be heard several kilometers away, sent burning debris showering
down over an area a few hundred yards from the Justice and Interior Ministries, a top
courthouse, and the former office of the prime minister. By Reuters, March 14, 2016, 9:50 AM.
This article collected from Fortune.com website. Other than that, two accounts of Twitter
were being suspended because twitting about corruptions in Turkey. The accounts identifications
are @Bascalan and @Haramzadeler333. Therefore it was seen that Turkey ban freedom of
expression in expressive way by blocking access to Twitter. Turkey keep making removal
requests of contents in Twitter. Below is the information of Turkey requesting for removal of
content in Twitter.
Powered by Factmint

Report
July to Dec,
2015
Jan to June, 2015
July to Dec,
2014
Jan to June, 2014
July to Dec,
2013
Jan to June, 2013
July to Dec,

Removal requests - court

orders

Removal requests - gov agency, police,

other

450

1761

408

310

328

149

65

121

3
0

4
6

The Electoral System of Turkey

Report

Removal requests - court

orders

11

Removal requests - gov agency, police,

other

2012

Collected from telegrapgh.co.uk on Saturday 23 April 2016.

The blocking of Facebook usually were according to blocking of Twitter. Therefore, it was seen
each time controversial occurrence happened in Turkey, the government are blocking social
media of Twitter and Facebook in order to prevent viral of negative news upon image of Turkey.
But, it can be seen that the citizens of Turkey are quite rascal and rebel in trying to
express their oppressive over government of Turkey. Government of Turkey having to face this
oppressive behavior of the citizens must be quite interrogating in order to maintain peace and
tranquility within the Republic of Turkey. Surely, the government has to respond from question
of abroad affairs regarding this issues. Despite many criticisms over the blocking of Twitter and
Facebook access, it was seem the government of Turkey are quite comfortable with this way of
handling current issues of Turkey during any harmful events and during election seasons in
Turkey.

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Conclusion
The government of Turkey is in a Presidential format. Each president are allowed to be
nominated only twice in current year. Having formed Republic of Turkey, the government faced
many changes during constituting electoral system in Turkey. Despite many changes, all reasons
behind any changes are related to the interest of current presidents and government officers,
especially in Supreme Courts and The Grand National Assembly also within the interests of the
Members of Parliaments of Turkey.
The background history of Turkey are quite repulsive with many sides wanted to rule
over Turkey. Therefore, it can be assumed Turkey is a strategic placed country with many
reliable natural sources and strategic consumed availability. Which means, anyone ruled Turkey
will possess a broad area to implement strategic planning to influence any scope of interest in the
world.
The government of Turkey express a reluctant way of allowing access to social media
such as Twitter and Facebook to protect image of Turkey. Social media especially Twitter always
been banned due to cause for protecting image of Turkey. Usually was to prevent viral messages
regarding any negative occurrence happened in Turkey such as bombarding activities and
corruptions issues. This action are quite different with Malaysia that exercising freedom of
expressions. This is Turkey preferences and this preferences might be due to highly controversial

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occurrences made by the Turkeys citizens which are very different with Malaysians peaceful
actions regarding any oppositions.
Therefore, it can be concluded any actions taken by any government in this world are
depend on the citizens behavior in making any expression. Whether it is repulsive or it is in
peaceful way will affecting the government choices either to block or not blocking any social
media, also effecting changes in electoral system. How it affecting changes in electoral system
are from interests of ruler after seeing the reactions of its citizens whether to keep position in
ruling by making changes in electoral system according to citizens demand or against the citizens
demand.

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References
Akkoc, R. (2016.). Ankara blast: Turkish court blocks Twitter and Facebook after
explosion. Retrieved April 13, 2016, from
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/12192889/Ankara-blast-Turkishcourt-blocks-Twitter-and-Facebook-after-explosion.html
Elections in Turkey. (2010). Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://turkishelections.com/
Reuters. (2016). Turkey Has Banned Facebook and Twitter After Its Deadly Bombing.
Retrieved April 22, 2016, from http://fortune.com/2016/03/14/turkish-authorities-bannedfacebook-twitter-car-bombing/
Wikipedia. (2015). Electoral system of Turkey. Retrieved April 11, 2016, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_system_of_Turkey
Wikipedia. (2016). Censorship of Twitter. Retrieved April 22, 2016, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_Twitter
Wikipedia. (2016). President of Turkey. Retrieved April 5, 2016, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Turkey
Wikipedia. (2016). Turkish presidential election, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_presidential_election,_2014

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