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| İYİ Party | |
|---|---|
| Name | İYİ Party |
| Native name | İYİ Parti |
| Founded | 25 October 2017 |
| Leader | Meral Akşener |
| Headquarters | Ankara |
| Ideology | Turkish nationalism; secularism; centrism |
| Position | Centre-right to centre |
| Colours | Yellow and blue |
| Seats1 title | Grand National Assembly |
| Country | Turkey |
İYİ Party is a Turkish political party founded in October 2017. It was established by a group of politicians who split from other parties and sought to position the new formation as a nationalist, secular, and centrist alternative in Turkish politics. The party rapidly became a notable actor in Turkish parliamentary politics, competing with established formations across the Turkish political spectrum.
The party was formed in the aftermath of disagreements within Nationalist Movement Party ranks and resignations involving figures associated with İstanbul, Ankara, and national debates following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt. Founders and early supporters included deputies and officials who had been active in Parliament of Turkey proceedings, interactions with the Constitutional Court of Turkey, and local campaigns in provinces such as Bursa, İzmir, and Sakarya. The new party registered with the Supreme Election Council of Turkey and contested national elections amid coalition negotiations with formations like the Republican People's Party and electoral alliances observed since the 2018 Turkish general election. Its formation influenced alignments in municipal contests such as the 2019 Turkish local elections and national presidential contests including the 2018 Turkish presidential election and later presidential cycles involving candidates from the Justice and Development Party and the People's Alliance (Turkey). Internationally, the party engaged with representatives from European Parliament delegations and monitored relations with states including Germany, France, and institutions like the European Council.
The party articulates positions drawing on elements associated with figures from the Republic of Turkey founding era and competitive modern nationalist platforms, referencing symbols and debates tied to the Turkish War of Independence and discussions about Atatürk's Reforms. Its self-described ideology blends Turkish nationalism, civic secularism, and a market-oriented approach influenced by policy discussions in bodies such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the World Bank. The platform has engaged with issues central to constituencies in Anatolia, Marmara Region, and urban districts like Kadıköy and Beşiktaş, situating itself between formations such as the Nationalist Movement Party and the Republican People's Party. The party has referenced legal frameworks including the Turkish Constitution while proposing amendments debated by lawmakers in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
The party maintains a central executive board headquartered in Ankara and regional directorates across provinces including İstanbul, Antalya, and Konya. Internal organs include disciplinary committees, youth wings, and relations offices that liaise with municipal branches in cities like Mersin and Samsun. It organizes conventions similar to those of the Justice and Development Party and the Republican People's Party and participates in candidate selection processes overseen by the Supreme Election Council of Turkey. Its structure mirrors parliamentary groupings within the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and coordinates with affiliated civil society organizations that interact with bodies such as the Union of Municipalities of Turkey.
The party entered the electoral arena during the 2018 Turkish general election as a new entrant and later contested municipal polls in 2019 Turkish local elections. It formed electoral strategies in relation to alliances like the Nation Alliance (Turkey) and competed against coalitions including the People's Alliance (Turkey). The party secured seats in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and won mayoralties and council positions in municipalities spanning İstanbul, Ankara, and regional centers. Performance varied across electoral districts, with notable results in provinces like Çanakkale and Eskişehir, and in metropolitan contests influenced by voter shifts tracked by opinion firms such as KONDA and Metropoll.
The founding leader, a prominent parliamentarian who previously served in Cabinets and parliamentary commissions, became the face of the movement and led campaigns in televised debates alongside challengers from parties such as the Justice and Development Party, Republican People's Party, and Nationalist Movement Party. Key figures include deputies who formerly represented districts like İzmir 1st electoral district and Bursa electoral district, strategists with backgrounds in municipal administration, and respected lawyers who engaged with cases before the Constitutional Court of Turkey. These leaders participated in coalition talks with figures from the Democrat Party (Turkey, current) and civil society actors including union representatives from organizations like the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions.
On foreign policy, the party has commented on relations with NATO partners and regional actors such as Russia, United States, and Greece, and has debated positions on issues involving European Union accession frameworks and bilateral ties with countries like Azerbaijan and Cyprus. Economic proposals referenced institutions like the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, the International Monetary Fund, and trade relationships with exporters in sectors represented by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey. Domestic policy stances include proposals on judicial reform engaging with the Council of Europe standards, municipal service improvements modeled on projects in İstanbul and Antalya, and education-related initiatives interacting with universities such as Boğaziçi University and Middle East Technical University.
The party faced criticism from rival leaders in the Nationalist Movement Party and the Justice and Development Party over its split and electoral strategies, drawing scrutiny in media outlets across Ankara and İstanbul. Legal challenges involving registration and candidate eligibility were processed by the Supreme Election Council of Turkey, while public debates with representatives from the Constitutional Court of Turkey and parliamentary factions generated controversy. Commentators from newspapers like Hürriyet, Cumhuriyet, and Sabah published analyses critiquing its positions, and think tanks in Washington, D.C. and Brussels weighed in on its potential impact on coalition dynamics and Turkish foreign relations.
Category:Political parties in Turkey