Manifesto pledges

Party manifestos

This page is now archived

To read about the manifesto pledges of Turkish political parties ahead of the 1 November 2015 election, follow this link.

All the main Turkish political parties have released their manifestos for the 7 June election. We compare them here.

Click to compare the pledges of the main five parties in

Major political issues

Threshold to elect MPs to parliament10%5%'Reorganise rules that obstruct participation'0%0%
Central BankCentral Bank will 'continue' to determine its own monetary policy to maintain price stability (p161)Protect Central Bank from arbitrary interventions (p44)● Independence in determining monetary policy (p100)
● The Bank will continue to operate from Ankara (p101)
--
Executive presidency● A presidential system is a more appropriate model of government for the effective and dynamic government that our New Turkey vision requires (p37)● No to an executive presidency system.
● Limit president's influence over judiciary and executive.
● Abolish the president's discretionary fund (p31)
Problems arising from Turkey's parliamentary system are best solved through the same parliamentary system (p64)● No to an executive presidency system.
● Abolish the president's discretionary fund (p30)
● No: we will reinforce the republic, a system for separation of powers (p13-14)
● Abolish the president's discretionary fund (p15)
Immunity from prosecution--Abolish criminal immunity and replace with immunity for speeches in parliamentAbolish criminal immunity and replace with immunity for speeches in parliament-
Press freedom● We have removed obstacles to free expression and enhanced press freedom.
● We have now added the proviso 'thought expressions made for purposes of criticism are not a crime' to all offences regarding freedom of expression. (p19)
● Respect the right of journalists to freely produce news and of citizens to obtain information from different sources.
● Legislate for an independent, free and pluralist media.
● TRT [the state broadcaster] will become autonomous. (p23)
● Believe press and broadcasts should not be censored but free, though laws must be drawn up for the right to reply, libel and untruthful productions. This will be enshrined in law. (p57)● Our 'Press ethics law' to reinforce journalism.
● RTÜK [the broadcast regulator] will be democratically reformed and abandon its conservative, moralist, censoring approach.
● All forms of internet censorship will be ended. (p9-10)
● Press freedom and objectivity is vitally important. We will ensure public broadcasters used for government propaganda truly become institutions for public benefit. (p17)

Domestic matters

Higher educationRetain YÖK, the university regulator, but consider plans to grant universities some autonomyAbolish YÖK and grant universities scientific, financial and administrative autonomyReform YÖK into a coordination body and grant universities financial and administrative autonomyAbolish YÖK and replace with a body that coordinates relations and exchanges knowledge between universitiesAbolish YÖK but retain state regulation over universities
Justice system● Reform disorganised conviction procedures in higher courts through constitutional change.
● End all forms of military justice except disciplinary hearings.
● Increase the role of parliament, which represents the national will, in senior judicial and appeal court appointments.
● Use European standards to define High Court membership terms. (p42-43)
● Split High Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) into two organisations.
● End role of Justice Minister and Undersecretary in appointing these (p30)
● The justice system will not operate under the guidance of the political administration or particular people or groups. The principle of rule of law will be followed. (p67)● HSYK will be reformed and political influence prevented.
● The Justice Minister's influence to end; Ministry of Justice to become autonomous.
● Right to access justice in mother languages. (p5)
● Prosecutors and judges in the HSYK will be divided into separate entities.
● Prosecutors and lawyers, who provide a claim and defence function in court, will acquire a matching status.
● Special Human Rights Courts will be introduced (p20-21)
Minimum wage1000 TL by the end of 20151500 TL1400 TL1800 TL1500 TL
Recognise Alevi faith● Already created "Alevi workshops", which allow discussion of different interpretations of Islam (p21)● Grant official status to Cemevi (p33)● Greater recognition for "Alevi Islam"● All Alevi places of worship to receive official status (p19)-
Women● Promote higher fertility rate with bonus payments to mothers of newborns and increased maternity pay for public sector workers.
● Incentives in law for more nurseries across the country. (p98)
● Maintain the "zero tolerance" principle in the battle against violence towards women (p106)
● Family Insurance, a social security service for the poorest in the country, to be paid directly to women to strengthen them financially.
● Positive discrimination for women in judiciary appointments, small business support funds and pensions. (p82)
● Fully implement the Istanbul Agreement that envisages a multi-directional approach to combating violence towards women (p84)
● Women will be supported in the workplace and negative discrimination ended.
● We will increase awareness of violence against women, particularly in the family. (p190-191)
● Women will be support in their struggle against male domination and violence. (p4)
● We will establish a Ministry for Women (p21)
● Women who work in the home will be considered workers and eligible for social security (p24)
● Free exhibition halls and marketplaces for women to sell the products they make at home. (p83)
● On violence towards women, we consider its reasons and outcomes and generate a solution with the participation and contribution of women. (p90)

Foreign policy

CyprusContinue our constructive role as a guarantor country supporting UN-sponsored peace talks (p324)Fight with North Cyprus against embargo, support peace talks but push for recognition if no deal (p187)● Only possible solution is a partnership of two regions, two nations and two states. states, two nations.
● We will always oppose Cyprus being made a condition of Turkey's EU membership. (p245)
Support Turkish & Greek Cypriot efforts to reunify island (p14)Our rights in Cyprus - maintained by international agreements - are being sacrified for nothing. (p99-100)
EU membershipMembership is a strategic objective (p320)Will make Turkey a full member (p178)Membership will be seen as a matter of destiny (p246)Continue to defend EU principles like "human rights, local democracy, divison of powers and rule of law" (p14)Oppose Turkey's EU membership
Syrian refugeesWill continue to stand by Syrian brothers and sisters (p326), for whom we have operated an 'open door' policy since 2011 (p330)Host them in a humane, organised manner, but actively support Syrian peace efforts so we can send them home (p183)● We will return those whose situation is suitable to their homeland at speed. (p230)
● They are our guests, but we will look to the United Nations and our allies to help with funding. (p242)
Prevent hate and discrimination against migrants and refugees (p45)Start work to return them home "as soon as possible" (p95)
U.S. relationsDevelop our relations on the basis of mutual respect and trust (p327)Cooperate with the United States - not because of global and regional developments, but because of our lasting common interests and values (p185)Deeper and more developed relations based on equality and reciprocity will be positive for both countries' interests. (p246)-Continue relationship "based on peace, dialogue, justice and equality" (p101)