Turkish parliamentary panel moves to lower minimum MP age

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

DHA Photo

The Turkish parliament’s Constitution Committee has approved a proposal from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for a constitutional amendment to lower the age of candidacy at the parliamentary level from 25 to 18 years old.

Over 200 deputies, including Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, signed the legislative proposal and submitted it to the Parliamentary Speaker’s Office on March 23, aiming to “encourage more young people to get involved in politics.”

“The youth are now offered the right to have a voice in national and global politics and the right to become a part of changing and developing politics,” the proposal said. “This is a significant democratic step.”   

If passed by the parliament, Turkish citizens who are 18 years old will be eligible to become candidates in parliamentary elections, whether or not they have completed their compulsory military service.

In 2006, a proposal was submitted by the AKP to reduce the age for parliamentary eligibility from 30 to 25, a measure that was later approved.

In Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, citizens 18 years of age and older can run in national, regional and local elections.