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| 2011 Turkish general election | |
|---|---|
| Election name | 2011 Turkish general election |
| Country | Turkey |
| Type | parliamentary |
| Previous election | 2007 Turkish general election |
| Previous year | 2007 |
| Next election | June 2015 Turkish general election |
| Next year | 2015 |
| Seats for election | 550 seats in the Grand National Assembly |
| Majority seats | 276 |
| Election date | 12 June 2011 |
2011 Turkish general election
The 2011 Turkish general election was held on 12 June 2011 to elect members to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The vote determined the composition of the 24th Parliament and shaped the political trajectory of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Abdullah Gül, and major parties including the Justice and Development Party (Turkey), the Republican People's Party, and the Nationalist Movement Party. The election occurred against the backdrop of regional developments such as the Arab Spring and ongoing domestic debates over secularism and Kurdish rights.
The election followed the 2007 parliamentary cycle and the ascendancy of the Justice and Development Party (Turkey) under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the presidential tenure of Abdullah Gül. Political context included tensions between the Turkish Armed Forces and civilian institutions highlighted by the aftermath of the Ergenekon trials and the Sledgehammer (Balyoz) trials, as well as legislative struggles over constitutional reform and the role of the Constitutional Court (Turkey). Economic considerations referenced during the campaign reflected the influence of the Global financial crisis of 2008–2009 on Turkish markets and the performance of institutions like the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey. Minority politics involved the Peace and Democracy Party (Turkey) and debates about rights of the Kurdish people and the legacy of the PKK.
Elections used a party-list proportional representation system with multi-member districts corresponding to the 81 provinces such as Istanbul Province, Ankara Province, and İzmir Province. The electoral threshold was 10 percent nationwide, a policy rooted in post-1980 Turkish coup d'état law and shaped by debates in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Seats were allocated using the D'Hondt method and supervised by the Supreme Electoral Council of Turkey (YSK). Voter registration and turnout procedures interfaced with the Interior Ministry (Turkey) and local election boards across districts such as Şanlıurfa Province and Diyarbakır Province.
Major parties contesting included the Justice and Development Party (Turkey) led by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Republican People's Party led by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, and the Nationalist Movement Party under Devlet Bahçeli. Smaller or regionally significant parties included the Peace and Democracy Party (Turkey) representing many pro-Kurdish constituencies, the Felicity Party (Turkey), and the Democratic Left Party (Turkey). Prominent individual candidates included former ministers and lawmakers from institutions such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Turkey), former diplomats tied to postings like Ambassador to the United States, and civic figures associated with organizations like the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD). Electoral alliances were constrained by the 10 percent threshold, prompting strategic nominations and debate over independent candidacies in provinces including Mersin Province and Hatay Province.
Campaign themes featured economic management, secularism, constitutional reform, and foreign policy relating to events such as the Arab Spring and relations with the European Union and United States. The Justice and Development Party (Turkey) emphasized economic growth and stability, pointing to infrastructure projects such as the Istanbul Finance Center proposals and transport projects in Istanbul Province. The Republican People's Party campaigned on social democratic reforms and criticism of perceived erosion of secular institutions like the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). The Nationalist Movement Party stressed nationalist security narratives with references to incidents involving the PKK. Media coverage involved outlets such as Hürriyet, Sabah, and Milliyet, and debates addressed the role of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) in regulating broadcasts.
Polling organizations including AKAM Research, Metropoll, and Konda Research produced regular surveys indicating competition mainly between the Justice and Development Party (Turkey) and the Republican People's Party. Polls tracked voter intention across provinces such as Istanbul Province, Ankara Province, and İzmir Province and measured variables like party preference, leader approval for figures including Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, and perceptions of economic indicators reported by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat). Polls showed the Justice and Development Party (Turkey) consistently leading, with debate over the fate of smaller parties near the electoral threshold.
The Justice and Development Party (Turkey) won a parliamentary majority, securing a substantial plurality of the 550 seats and a nationwide vote share that reinforced its dominance in provinces including Istanbul Province and Ankara Province. The Republican People's Party improved its position as the main opposition, winning seats across western provinces like İzmir Province and Bursa Province. The Nationalist Movement Party increased its representation in several districts. The Peace and Democracy Party (Turkey) maintained a presence in predominantly Kurdish-majority provinces including Diyarbakır Province and Hakkâri Province. Voter turnout, monitored by the Supreme Electoral Council of Turkey (YSK), was high compared with many European parliamentary elections.
Following the vote, the Justice and Development Party (Turkey) formed the new cabinet under Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, succeeding the previous administration and influencing appointments across ministries such as the Ministry of Justice (Turkey) and Ministry of Finance (Turkey). Parliamentary priorities included debates on constitutional amendments involving the Constitutional Court (Turkey) and potential rapprochement with opposition actors including the Republican People's Party and regional representatives from the Peace and Democracy Party (Turkey). International reactions came from actors like the European Commission, the United Nations, and governments including the United States. Political consequences shaped subsequent events in Turkish politics, setting the stage for constitutional debates and the later presidential focus leading to changes formalized in the 2017 Turkish constitutional referendum.
Category:General elections in Turkey Category:2011 elections Category:June 2011 events