Turkey’s electoral board: 11 parties to run in June polls

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Turkey’s electoral body on April 25 announced that 11 political parties will compete in the June 24 polls.

The Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) on April 22 had said 10 parties, including the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), will run in the parliamentary and presidential elections.

The other parties that will run are the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Felicity Party (SP), Grand Unity Party (BBP), Independent Turkey Party (BTP), Democrat Party (DP), Patriotic (Vatan) Party, Free Cause Party (Hüda-Par), and the newly formed İYİ (Good) Party.

Meanwhile, YSK President Sadi Güven has said the board will announce the elections calendar on April 26.

“Today we will, as soon as possible, release the elections calendar. We’ll continue to release the circulars we have prepared,” Güven said on April 26.

Parliament passed a bill on April 20 calling for early elections on June 24, cementing Turkey’s move to a presidential system.

In an April 2017 referendum, Turkish voters approved the switch from a parliamentary system to a presidential one.