Info
Parties and Candidates
PC001
Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
c . Regional distribution requirement e . Minimum number of candidates f . Other
Comments: Parties have to establish their organizations in at least half of the provinces, which means the establishment of an organization in at least one third of the counties within that province including the central county; and they have to convene their main congress no later than within six months or have a group in the Grand National Assembly
Political parties have to present a full number of candidates in at least half of the total number of provinces and present candidates in one or more of the election districts of these provinces.
Source: Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers, art. 14: http://www.legislationline.org/download/action/download/id/1313/file/fc1948ff2445260c54d20269d70c.pdf
Parliamentary Elections Law, art. 13-14: http://www.legislationline.org/download/action/download/id/1310/file/bbf6e67f60e5492350474eaa9e9a.pdf
Verified: 2016/01/21
PC003
Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
a . Age b . Citizenship h . Minimum level of education j . Other
Comments: The constitution was amended for the 19th time in April of 27, 2017.
The amendment lowered the age level qualification from twenty-five to eighteen to be eligible for the chamber. Furthermore, whereas under the previous constitution mandatory military service was a requirement to running for the deputy post,the new amendment required no relation with the military to be eligible to run for the chamber.
Every Turk over the age of 18 is eligible to be a deputy.
Persons who have not completed primary education, who have been
deprived of legal capacity, who are in relation with their
military services, who are banned from public service, who
have been sentenced to a prison term totalling one year or
more excluding involuntary offences, or to a heavy
imprisonment; those who have been convicted of
dishonourable offences such as embezzlement, corruption,
bribery, theft, fraud, forgery, breach of trust, fraudulent
bankruptcy; and persons convicted of smuggling, conspiracy
in official bidding or purchasing, of offences related to the
disclosure of state secrets, of involvement in acts of terrorism,
or incitement and encouragement of such activities, shall not
be elected as a deputy, even if they have been granted
amnesty.
Judges and prosecutors, members of the higher judicial
organs, lecturers at institutions of higher education, members
of the Council of Higher Education, employees of public
institutions and agencies who have the status of civil
servants, other public employees not regarded as labourers
on account of the duties they perform, and members of the
armed forces shall not stand for election or be eligible to be a
deputy unless they resign from office
Law: art. 21: Applicants for independent candidature shall also deposit an amount equal to the gross salary of a civil servant of the highest rank to the responsible sub-division of the treasury and add the receipt thereof to the documents of their application for candidature. They are reimbursed if they receive a sufficient number of votes to be elected (or withdraw candidature within the legal time limit or whose candidature is declined or in case of death - the money is reimbursed to their legal successors.)
Source: Unofficial Translation Of The Amendments To The Constitution, art. 76: http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-REF(2017)005-e
Parliamentary Elections Law, art. 10-11 & 21: http://www.legislationline.org/download/action/download/id/1310/file/bbf6e67f60e5492350474eaa9e9a.pdf
Verified: 2018/06/08
PC008
Independent candidates
Question: Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):
e . In both presidential and legislative elections
Comments: The President of the Republic is elected for a term of office of seven years by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey from among its own members who are over 40 years of age and who have completed their higher education or from among Turkish citizens who fulfill these requirements and are eligible to be deputies.
The nomination of a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic from outside the Grand National Assembly of Turkey requires a written proposal by at least one-fifth of the total number of members of the Assembly.
Law: art. 12: Every Turkish citizen eligible for candidature can stand for parliamentary elections - there is no obligation of being a political party member for candidature.
Source: Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 101: https://global.tbmm.gov.tr/docs/constitution_en.pdf
Parliamentary Elections Law, art. 12: http://www.legislationline.org/download/action/download/id/1310/file/bbf6e67f60e5492350474eaa9e9a.pdf
Verified: 2016/01/21
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
b . Direct c . Indirect
Comments: The state shall provide the political parties with adequate financial means in an equitable manner. The financial assistance to be extended to political parties, as well as procedures related to collection of membership dues and donations are regulated by law.
Source: The Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 68: https://global.tbmm.gov.tr/docs/constitution_en.pdf
IDEA database:
http://www.idea.int/political-finance/country.cfm?id=223#Public%20funding
Verified: 2016/01/21
PC015
Question: What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):
b . Based on result of previous election
Comments: Report: "According to the Constitutional Court, a significant share of party funding in Turkey comes from the state budget. Political parties that pass the 10 per cent threshold in parliamentary elections qualify for the allocation of state funds, while more limited funding is also available to parties that received over 7 per cent of votes".
Source: OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report. 30 March – 1 April 2011. Parliamentary elections in the Republic of Turkey. 12 June 2011. Warsaw 13 April 2011: http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/76837
IDEA database:
http://www.idea.int/political-finance/country.cfm?id=223#Public%20funding
Verified: 2016/01/21
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: There are no provisions in the legislature banning private funding. The Constitution only states that the revenues and expenditures of political parties must be in conformity with their objectives. However, political parties may not engage in commercial activities and those political parties that receive material assistance from foreign States, international organizations and real persons and legal entities that are not of Turkish nationality are dissolved permenantly.
Report: "A recent change in the legislation allowed professional and business associations, as well as trade unions to support political parties by various means, including financial donations."
Source: Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 69: https://global.tbmm.gov.tr/docs/constitution_en.pdf
OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report. 30 March – 1 April 2011. Parliamentary elections in the Republic of Turkey. 12 June 2011. Warsaw 13 April 2011: http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/76837
Verified: 2016/01/21
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