Political outline

Executive Power

The President of the Republic is the Head of State. He is elected by indirect universal suffrage for a single 7 year term of office, by secret ballot in Parliament. However, following a constitutional change in 2007, the next election (2014) will be by direct universal suffrage. He has the function of an arbitrator (promulgation of laws, signature of decrees..) and he appoints the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. The President also appoints the judicial organs and other governmental organs. His role is above all ceremonial but his position benefits from considerable symbolic importance.
The Prime Minister is the head of the government. He is elected by Parliament when there is a vote of confidence in the government, for a five year term of office. He holds the executive power, which includes law enforcement and managing the current business of the country. The government he directs is responsible before Parliament which can overturn it with an absolute majority of its members.

Legislative Power

Legislative power in Turkey is unicameral. The Parliament, called Great National Assembly of Turkey, has 550 seats, and its members are elected by universal suffrage for five years according to a system of proportional representation.

Main political parties

- The AKP (Justice and Development Party) - a conservative party, moderately Islamic
- The CHP (Republican People's Party) - a nationalist, social-democratic party
- The MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) - extreme right nationalist party
- The DEHAP (Democratic People's Party) and Independents - left wing party, pro-Kurd
- The ANAP (Motherland Party) - center right and liberal party
- The DYP ( Just Way Party) - non-religious, right wing conservative party.

Current political leaders

President : Abdullah GÜL (since August 2007) - AKP and former Minister of Foreign Affairs (March 2003 to July 2007 )
Prime Minister: Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since March 2003) - AKP
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Ali BABACAN
Minister of Foreign Trade: Kürsad TÜZMEN
Minister of Finance: Kemal UNAKITAN
Minister of the Interior: Besir ATALAY

Next election dates

Presidential : August 2014
Legislative : November 2012