The parties’ 2018 manifestos

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The main Turkish political parties have released their manifestos for the 24 June election. We compare their pledges in some policy areas here.

Or click a policy area below:

Major political issues

The parties’ policies on OHAL (olağanüstü hal), the state of emergency introduced in the wake of the coup attempt in July 2016.

AK Party

We will continue OHAL without harming to citizens’ basic rights and freedoms until our national security and citizens’ tranquility is fully established (p30)

CHP

We will abolish OHAL and end the system of laws by decree. Existing laws by decree will be open to constitutional scrutiny (p37)

MHP

OHAL is necessary and must continue until a certain victory is secured in the battle against FETÖ (p54)

HDP

End OHAL. Allow public sector workers unlawfully expelled from their jobs to return (p12)

Good Party

We will end OHAL (p19)

Saadet

Detailed manifesto to be announced.

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Over a hundred journalists are in prison in Turkey. The parties have differing assessments of what that means for press freedom.

AK Party

● We have removed obstacles to free expression and enhanced press freedom.
● We introduced the rule “thought expressions made to criticise are not a crime” (p25)

CHP

Restrict the business activities of media organisation owners in other sectors (p44)

MHP

Provided they do not contradict the Republic’s basic principles, national security and public order, we believe the press, broadcasters and other communication tools must be neither restricted nor censored and must be free (p36)

HDP

Owners of media organisations will not be able to operate in other business sectors. (p76)

Good Party

● Encourage multiple voices in the press and broadcast sectors outside of the control of corporation bosses.
● The state broadcaster TRT is a drain on public resources and will be sold. (p12-13)

Saadet

Detailed manifesto to be announced.

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The parties have different plans for the pressing question of judicial independence in Turkey

AK Party

Sustain the judiciary’s independence and impartiality through deep-rooted reforms to the justice system (p41), including target times to complete cases (p42)

CHP

Reform the Constitutional Court: its members will be chosen by the judiciary and a qualified majority of MPs (p41)

MHP

The constitutional changes secured in the 2017 referendum have allowed a more democratic and just, unbiased and independent judicial system to emerge (p80)

HDP

Reform the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) into an autonomous body and remove the Justice Minister from its membership (p12)

Good Party

● Restructure the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) and pass laws to ensure judges are able to operate in a transparent, impartial manner.
● Reform the Constitutional Court
● Introduce different categories of prison for use before and after a conviction.(p17-18)

Saadet

Detailed manifesto to be announced.

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Finance

Turkey face soaring interest rates and a tumbling lira against the US dollar. Here’s how the parties want to manage that.

AK Party

Monetary policy will be conducted in coordination with finance policy. The Central Bank’s direct use of monetary policy tools to maintain price stability will remain the basis. Inflation targets and a fluctuating foreign exchange rate will continue (p152)

CHP

Repair the Central Bank’s institutional reputation and independence. The balance between financial and monetary policy will be redefined with the objective of achieving growth and price stability together (p72)

MHP

No specific proposals

HDP

The HDP government will lower our interest rate expenditure not by decree but through confidence (p31)

Good Party

Reinstate the Central Bank’s independence in methods and tools, so that it can concentrate on price stability without the effects of political pressure (p59)

Saadet

Detailed manifesto to be announced.

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The parties have competing proposals to help the millions burdened by credit card and bank loan debt.

AK Party

No specific proposals

CHP

Eliminate the interest on all agricultural loans incurred by farmers (p74) and restructure student debt (p185)

MHP

Support efforts to lift our citizens out of the poverty trap caused by debt and high interest rates from consumer credit and bank cards (p120)

HDP

Eliminate the bank interest debt of all workers, farmers, traders, civil servants and pensioners living below the poverty line up to 50,000 TL (p27)

Good Party

Restructure farmers’ debt (p78) and eliminate student credit debt (p106)

Saadet

Detailed manifesto to be announced.

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Elections

A feature of Turkish elections for decades, the bane of established and Kurdish parties and a boon for larger populist movements. But do the parties want it to stay?

AK Party

Retain at 10%

CHP

Remove the 10% threshold; ensure parties that receive more than 1% are represented in parliament (p38)

MHP

The new system of electoral alliances has allowed smaller parties to elect MPs and eliminated the need to lower the threshold (p62)

HDP

Reduce to 0% (p13)

Good Party

Lower to 5% (p15)

Saadet

Detailed manifesto to be announced.

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The Yüksek Seçim Kurulu (YSK) is the body responsible for planning, running and scrutinising Turkey’s elections. Some parties think it needs reform.

AK Party

No specific proposals

CHP

All decisions will be subject to the oversight of the Constitutional Court (p39)

MHP

No specific proposals

HDP

No specific proposals

Good Party

We will renew the YSK to establish public trust once again (p15)

Saadet

Detailed manifesto to be announced.

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Some parties have pledged to allow Turkish expatriates to elect MPs to represent their interests in the future

AK Party

No specific proposals

CHP

Create one overseas electoral district per 300,000 expatriate voters, who will be represented by 10 MPs (p128)

MHP

No specific proposals

HDP

No specific proposals

Good Party

Create MPs who represent expatriate voters (page 15)

Saadet

Detailed manifesto to be announced.

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Domestic matters

Turkey’s east and southeastern region, predominantly populated by Kurds, is far poorer and less developed than the rest of the country. The parties differ on how to fix this – and on whether the inhabitants should be called Kurds at all.

AK Party

No specific proposals

CHP

We will solve the Kurdish problem, with courage and determination, through dialogue and on the principle of equal citizenship (p113)

MHP

Implement the “East and Southeast Anatolian Region Development Programme”, which will provide economic grwoth, social development and communal reconciliation and lead to national unity and togetherness (p42)

HDP

A permanent peace in the Kurdish problem is the only way to tranquility, trust and welfare. 24 June is the starting day of an era where we can live together, with all of our differences, on the basis of equal citizenship in Turkey (p9)

Good Party

Develop economic and social conditions in eastern and southeastern regions to raise citizens’ welfare standards (p19)

Saadet

Detailed manifesto to be announced.

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Universities in Turkey are highly centralised with Yükseköğretim Kurulu (YÖK) retaining sweeping powers, including control of faculties and classes. Some parties think it needs reform.

AK Party

No specific proposals

CHP

Abolish YÖK and create a body to coordinate between autonomous universities (p102)

MHP

No specific proposals this time – proposed reforming YÖK in 2015

HDP

Abolish YÖK and replace with a body that coordinates relations and exchanges knowledge between universities (p54)

Good Party

Abolish YÖK and introduce academic and scientific freedom through reforms of higher education.

Saadet

Detailed manifesto to be announced.

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