YSK approves İYİ Party’s participation in snap elections

ANKARA

The Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) has approved the participation of the İYİ (Good) Party in the upcoming elections after 15 main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) lawmakers joined the party in order to ensure its entrance to the elections.

The board approved İYİ Party’s application on April 22 with seven of nine members’ votes in favor.

According to the YSK’s decision, the list of political parties that will be able to participate in the upcoming elections are as follows: The Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Independent Turkey Party (BTP), the Grand Union Party (BBP), the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the Democrat Party (DP), the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), the İYİ (Good) Party, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the Felicity Party (FP) and the Homeland Party (VP)

The decision came after İYİ Party Deputy Chair Aytun Çıray applied to the YSK on April 22 to enter the elections with a letter after 15 CHP lawmakers resigned from their parties and joined the İYİ Party.

The CHP lawmakers’ move raised the number of the İYİ Party’s seats in parliament to 20, the minimum number required to form a parliamentary group.

As political parties with a group in parliament have the right to enter elections, Çıray then applied to the YSK with a letter, demanding the commencement of a procedure for the party’s electoral participation.

“The İYİ Party has fulfilled the conditions stipulated by article 36 of the Political Parties’ Law, forming a parliamentary group, which is stated as one of the preconditions to enter elections,” the letter stated.