Constitution

A 1982 referendum approved a new constitution embodying considerable restrictions on personal liberty.

The constitution was amended in 1999 and 2001. The 1999 amendment was undertaken to ease the path of the privatization program while an amendment in October 2001 was aimed at redefining human rights in view of Turkey’s aspirations to join the EU. In December 2002, three articles of the constitution were amended, allowing a person with a prison conviction (non-terrorist charge) to stand for parliament. Apart from these additions, the new constitution differs little from the 1926 version, promulgated by Kemal Atatürk, which enshrines Turkey as a secular, democratic and unitary republic.

Only parties gaining more than 10 per cent of the national vote are eligible for seats in parliament.

The country is divided into 79 provinces for administrative purposes.

Voting eligibility: universal direct suffrage over 18 years.

Form of state: Parliamentary republic

The executive

Executive power rests with the president and council of ministers. The president is the head of state. The president, who serves a seven-year term, is elected by the parliament and appoints the prime minister, who in turn chooses the Council of Ministers. A National Security Council guides government policy in areas of security and law and order. It is chaired by the president and is composed of government ministers and armed forces commanders.

National legislature

Legislative power rests with the unicameral Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (TGNA) (Turkish Grand National Assembly). The TGNA consists of 550 representatives elected directly by adult suffrage for five-year terms. Only parties gaining over 10 per cent of the vote are eligible to sit in the TGNA.

Legal system

The legal system is based on European models and the 1982 constitution.

The court system is divided into three areas: civil, penal and administrative. The highest courts are the Appeal Court for civil and penal cases and the State Council for tax and administrative cases.

Last elections

3 November 2002 (parliamentary); 5 May 2000 (presidential).

Next elections

May 2007 (presidential); due by November 2007 (parliamentary).

Political parties

Ruling party: Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi (AKP) (Justice and Development Party) (since Nov 2002)

Main opposition party: Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (CHP) (Republican People’s Party)