Politics
Major Political Parties in Türkiye Explained
According to official figures, Türkiye has 190 political parties. This number may sound incredibly high and can be reduced to below 100 if you don’t count parties whose membership numbers are only a few dozen, as well as parties with only one branch or office and a sign. Still, Türkiye is rich in democratic tradition, with new parties being established almost every two years, although few parties can make it to parliament.
Here are some of the major parties that have endured closure lawsuits, military juntas and tectonic shifts in voters’ preferences.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party)
In power since 2002, the ruling AK Party is a true survivor of Turkish politics, which was often interrupted by coups. Weathering a closure lawsuit and multiple attempts to overthrow its governments, the party is the most successful in the brief history of democracy in the country in terms of its winning streak. It won seven consecutive legislative elections and broke the unfortunate tradition of short-lived coalition governments that had run the country since the 1970s.
The party, which currently has 277 seats in the 600-seat parliament, has more than 11.7 million members, according to official figures, making it one of the largest parties in the region where Türkiye is located.
The AK Party was founded by an assorted mix of politicians, mostly from parties that pursued right-wing, conservative politics, but it managed to attract voters from the opposite side of the political spectrum with an all-embracing approach. With the decline of other right-wing and conservative parties, the party grew more and more over two decades.
The party’s leader is President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who established it with fellow politicians, mainly from the now-defunct Welfare Party (RP), where Erdoğan first rose to prominence as a skilled orator and then as mayor of Istanbul. Erdoğan later handed the chairmanship of the AK Party to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu when he was elected president, as a president could not be the chair of a party under the former presidential system. He returned to the chairmanship in 2017 after Türkiye switched to an executive presidential system. The party’s logo is a lightbulb emitting seven rays, which represent the seven geographic regions of Türkiye.
The AK Party received 35.62% of the parliamentary vote in the last legislative election, held in 2023, and the only election in which it suffered a serious setback was the 2024 municipal elections, when the party lost several strongholds and failed to take back Istanbul Municipality, which it had run for years. Still, the party managed to receive 35.49% of the vote and won 24 provincial and 357 district municipalities in the 2024 local elections.
The party is a member of the People’s Alliance, which it first set up with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) during the 2018 elections.
New Party (YP)
Founded in July 2026, the New Party (YP) is the second-largest party in the Turkish Parliament, with 91 lawmakers. Its chairman is Özgür Özel, former chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP).
YP became a main opposition party within days of its foundation by former CHP members.
It is a product of infighting within the CHP. When a court ordered the reinstatement of Özel’s predecessor in the CHP over allegations of vote-buying in a 2023 intra-party election, Özel was forced out of office in May 2026. After vowing to pursue a legal battle, Özel changed his mind within days and announced the establishment of YP.
YP touts a new political vision seeking to attract voters antagonized by the CHP, but it also claims a commitment to the principles of the social democratic CHP. As Özel announced in his declaration of the party’s foundation, YP aims to establish a “Türkiye Alliance with conservative, nationalist, Kurdish and social democratic circles.” The party’s logo is plain text reading “Yeni” (New in Turkish), with the letter N bearing a striking resemblance to the logo of a certain international streaming platform.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)
MHP is one of the oldest nationalist parties in Türkiye and was founded in 1969 when its founder, former military officer Alparslan Türkeş, changed the name of his Republican Peasants’ Nation Party. Türkeş is considered the father of modern Turkish nationalism, which had been confined to the margins of politics during the final days of the Ottoman Empire and the early years of the Republic of Türkiye.
The party’s current leader is Devlet Bahçeli, who was elected in 1997, one month after Türkeş’s death. Bahçeli won successive intra-party elections and boosted MHP’s vote share in the 1999 elections from 8.1% to 17.9%, securing a seat in the coalition government as deputy prime minister.
Like most political parties, MHP was closed by the military junta following the 1980 coup. It was reopened in 1993 under its current name after a separate party founded by former MHP members was dissolved.
In the last general elections, held in 2023, MHP won more than 10% of the vote and secured 50 seats in parliament. After allying with the AK Party in 2018, the party did not field any presidential candidates in subsequent elections.
MHP’s logo is three crescents against a red background.
The party is also associated with the Idealists’ Club, which evolved into a foundation from a nationalist movement that lost many members during the political turmoil of the 1970s and the executions carried out by the military junta after 1980. Idealists, known as “ülkücüs” in Turkish, are called Grey Wolves in Europe, where they had many members in the past.
Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM)
DEM was founded in 2012 through the merger of several small left-wing parties and, over time, evolved into a party that served as a continuation of now-defunct parties that sought to associate themselves with the Kurdish community. DEM changed its name from the Green Left Party to its current one and is currently co-chaired by Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan. It is currently the third-largest party in parliament, with 56 lawmakers.
The party is known for its close links with the terrorist group PKK and played a role in the Terror-Free Türkiye initiative launched by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli in 2024. DEM lawmakers served as messengers, carrying messages from the PKK’s jailed ringleader Abdullah Öcalan to the public, which led to the PKK’s announcement of its dissolution in 2025.
Republican People’s Party (CHP)
CHP is Türkiye’s oldest party and was founded by the Republic of Türkiye’s first president, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Before the establishment of YP, it was the main opposition party, but currently, it has only 44 lawmakers in parliament, lagging behind DEM and MHP.
Its current chair is Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who unsuccessfully ran against incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the 2023 general elections.
The party briefly ran the country after Atatürk’s death in 1938 but lost to the Democrat Party in the 1950 elections. Since then, it has never managed to win an election, although it maintained its status as a strong opposition party up until the foundation of YP.
CHP pursues a “social democratic” ideology and is currently in the process of holding a new congress that may prolong Kılıçdaroğlu’s tenure.
Türkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Friday condemned Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories as the main source of instability in the Middle East and beyond, demanding an urgent end to Israeli violence, illegal settlement expansion and the forced displacement of Palestinians while calling for the immediate implementation of a two-state solution.
In a joint statement issued following the R4 foreign ministers’ meeting in Istanbul, the four countries warned that Israeli policies had deepened a sense of injustice among people worldwide and undermined prospects for lasting regional peace.
The ministers reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable and territorially contiguous Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
They stressed that implementing a two-state solution in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions was essential to achieving comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
The joint statement also demanded an immediate end to Israeli violence and attempts to alter Jerusalem’s legal and historical status.
The ministers condemned past and ongoing illegal Israeli settlement activities in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, along with attacks by illegal Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities.
They also called for unrestricted humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip and urgent reconstruction efforts to address the devastation and humanitarian suffering caused by the conflict.
R4 calls for diplomacy over Iran, reopening of Hormuz
Addressing the ongoing military confrontation between the U.S., Israel and Iran, the four countries emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy remained the only viable means of resolving the crisis.
The ministers urged all sides to refrain from targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, including commercial vessels, while warning against further military escalation.
They expressed support for the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and welcomed diplomatic initiatives aimed at preventing the conflict from spreading, reaffirming their commitment to a lasting negotiated settlement.
The statement also highlighted the strategic importance of maritime security and freedom of navigation, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for international energy shipments.
The ministers warned that disruptions to major shipping routes threatened global supply chains and the transportation of energy, fertilizers and food, with particularly severe consequences for vulnerable populations.
They rejected measures restricting lawful maritime traffic and demanded the swift restoration of safe, secure and unrestricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The four countries emphasized that protecting international shipping routes required coordinated action by the international community.
Turning to Yemen, the R4 ministers strongly condemned escalating attacks by the Houthi militia, particularly strikes targeting Saudi Arabia and its civilian infrastructure.
They also denounced Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, warning that such actions had intensified humanitarian suffering and threatened regional maritime security.
The ministers expressed solidarity with the governments of Saudi Arabia and Yemen and called on the Houthis to immediately halt military operations, threats and attacks.
They urged the group to return to the political process in good faith, stressing the importance of diplomatic efforts to restore stability in Yemen and the wider region.
Türkiye pledges continued regional diplomatic engagement
The joint statement followed a series of diplomatic meetings hosted by Türkiye, bringing together regional and European powers to address interconnected conflicts and security challenges across the Middle East and Europe.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Türkiye had hosted representatives from eight countries in Istanbul for the R4 and expanded R4+E3 meetings, which also included Britain, Germany, France and Italy.
In a statement shared on social media, Fidan said the discussions addressed regional and global challenges, emphasizing the need for coordinated diplomatic efforts to prevent further instability.
He said participating countries agreed that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, guided by the principle of regional ownership.
Fidan also emphasized Türkiye’s determination to continue playing an active role in resolving regional crises, citing its strategic position connecting Europe and the Middle East.
“We hope this initiative, which we have spearheaded, will gain continuity and contribute to peace and stability in our region and beyond,” Fidan said.
“With our central position between the two regions, Türkiye will continue to assume responsibility for resolving regional issues,” he added.
The R4 ministers agreed to maintain close consultations and coordination on the issues discussed, underscoring their commitment to continued diplomatic engagement on regional security, humanitarian challenges and efforts to achieve lasting peace.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday inaugurated five museums at Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace, opening 10,500 artifacts from the palace’s collection to the public following the restoration of the historic Darphane-i Amire complex.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Erdoğan said the restoration had transformed seven buildings containing 46 halls across 17,000 square meters into five museums. The collection includes more than 2,000 examples of Islamic calligraphy that were previously kept in storage and will be displayed for the first time across 12 halls.
The newly opened museums will expand the range of historical and cultural artifacts accessible to visitors at Topkapı Palace, one of the most prominent landmarks of the Ottoman Empire.
Erdoğan said the complex also houses the first arms museum established during the Ottoman period, adding that the restored site had become a museum district that could serve as an example internationally.
“Every part of this treasure reflects a distinct body of knowledge, a refined intuition and an independent understanding of aesthetics, bringing science and wisdom together in a remarkable synthesis,” Erdoğan said, describing Türkiye’s historical and cultural heritage.
He stressed that preserving cultural assets required more than restoring buildings and displaying historical objects. Their significance, he said, lay in protecting the knowledge and traditions they represent and passing them on to future generations.
“Of course, these works are important and valuable. They are treasures of our cultural heritage. But what matters most is preserving this accumulated legacy with a strong sense of awareness, enriching it further and passing it on fully to the generations that follow us,” he said.
Erdoğan also described Topkapı Palace itself as a masterpiece, arguing that Türkiye possesses an exceptional cultural legacy shaped by centuries of history, architecture, art and literature.
Erdoğan criticizes past cultural policies
The president used the ceremony to criticize previous approaches to Westernization, accusing past administrations of neglecting Türkiye’s historical and cultural identity.
He cited the former use of Yıldız Palace as an entertainment venue and casino, the sale of rare manuscripts to foreign buyers as scrap paper, and the conversion of historic mosques into grain warehouses and, in some cases, stables.
Erdoğan said such practices reflected policies that sought to distance the Turkish people from their historical roots and national and spiritual values.
“We were subjected to a policy of stripping people of their identity, one that sought Westernization only in clothing, denied our history and culture, and alienated people from their national and spiritual values,” he said.
He argued that some people continued to reject the country’s historical inheritance and challenge its cultural identity.
“For 24 years, we have not given representatives of this mentality an opportunity. God willing, we will not give them one in the future either,” Erdoğan said, referring to the period under his political leadership.
He added that the newly opened museums provided a response to critics who had questioned the restoration project.
According to Erdoğan, work on the complex began seven years ago, amid allegations that the site was being prepared for use as a presidential office or residence. He said those claims had proved false and that the restoration had instead created a major cultural destination.
“We are working to protect Istanbul’s cultural heritage, keep it alive and pass it on to future generations,” he said.
More than 10,000 artifacts to go on display
The opening marks a significant expansion of the collection on public display at Topkapı Palace.
Erdoğan said the palace’s inventory had previously included 7,500 exhibited works, with the addition of the 10,500 artifacts at the new museums further strengthening its position among the world’s museums.
The newly accessible collection includes more than 2,000 calligraphy works that had remained in storage. Their display across 12 halls will allow visitors to see pieces that had not previously been presented to the public.
The restored Darphane-i Amire complex, whose name refers to the Ottoman imperial mint, has been reorganized to accommodate the five museums while preserving the historic buildings.
The project forms part of broader efforts to restore Ottoman-era landmarks and make their collections accessible to the public.
Edirne Palace restoration also underway
Erdoğan also highlighted ongoing restoration work at Edirne Palace, another major Ottoman imperial complex, promising to revive the historic site.
He said Ottoman sultans had used the palace alongside Topkapı Palace for approximately 300 years and that the government was working to restore the complex to its former prominence.
Erdoğan said the project was expected to be completed next year, describing Edirne Saray-ı Cedid-i Amire as a landmark that would become one of Türkiye’s most impressive historical monuments.
The restoration of Edirne Palace, he added, would contribute to the country’s efforts to preserve its architectural heritage and strengthen its cultural landscape.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday received top diplomats from six European and regional countries following the R4+E3 foreign ministers’ talks in Türkiye, as diplomatic efforts intensify to address mounting regional and global tensions.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Pakistani Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
The diplomats were in Türkiye for the R4 talks involving Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as well as the expanded R4+E3 format bringing together European counterparts, with Italy also participating.
The first-ever R4+E3 foreign ministers’ meeting kicked off in Istanbul on Friday. Discussions focused on Palestine, the Strait of Hormuz, developments involving Yemen and diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war, exploring opportunities for closer cooperation and coordination between the two diplomatic groups.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Friday that eight countries attending talks in Istanbul agreed that any new military attack on Iran would further escalate regional conflicts, stressing that diplomacy and dialogue remain the only viable path toward resolving the crisis.
Speaking at a news conference following a meeting of foreign ministers from the R4 countries – Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia – and the E3 nations – Britain, Germany and France – also attended by Italy, Fidan said participants shared concerns over growing instability in the Middle East and the wider repercussions of ongoing conflicts.
“Nobody currently supports a new attack on Iran,” Fidan said, emphasizing that military intervention would not offer a solution and would instead risk spreading the conflict across the region.
The top Turkish diplomat said Istanbul hosted two rounds of diplomatic consultations, beginning with a meeting of the four regional countries before expanding to discussions with European counterparts.
He said the meetings addressed regional and global challenges, including Israel’s destabilizing role in the Middle East, the situation in the Black Sea and disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Fidan noted that conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine were placing growing pressure on governments and their citizens, regardless of geographical location, particularly through their economic and financial consequences.
“All countries around the table oppose the further spread of war,” he said, adding that participants wanted an end to hostilities both in the Gulf region and Ukraine.
He said the countries agreed that any renewed military action against Iran would risk expanding the ongoing conflict and further destabilizing the region.
“We agree that diplomacy and dialogue are the only solution and that intervention against Iran is not a solution,” Fidan said.
The minister stressed that the positions of major global powers would be particularly important in determining whether diplomatic efforts could succeed.
He said the discussions focused on identifying appropriate diplomatic mechanisms to prevent further destruction and bring ongoing conflicts to an end.
“There is considerable room for both diplomacy and war,” Fidan said, underscoring the need for international consensus on dialogue as the only viable way forward.
The meeting also highlighted shared concerns over maritime security and disruptions to key international shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, which have significant implications for global trade and energy markets.
On Türkiye’s maritime agreement with Libya, Fidan said Ankara was holding talks with Egypt to address Cairo’s concerns over the deal
He also said the conditions were now in place to unite Libya’s rival eastern and western factions, expressing hope that Ankara would soon announce positive developments on the matter
Türkiye has no plans to engage Yemen’s Houthi rebels in combat under its trilateral defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said Friday, stressing that any Turkish military support for Riyadh would focus on strengthening deterrence and preventing further regional escalation.
Güler outlined Ankara’s position on the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in August and submitted to the Turkish Parliament for ratification this week.
“We absolutely do not envisage entering into any clashes with the Houthis,” Güler told Star TV, emphasizing that Türkiye’s priority was to prevent new tensions and contribute to regional security and stability.
He said potential Turkish military assistance to Saudi Arabia would follow a model similar to Ankara’s existing military cooperation with Qatar, focusing primarily on deterrence rather than direct involvement in hostilities.
“In this context, as in Qatar, the primary objective of our potential military support for Saudi Arabia would be to strengthen deterrence,” Güler said.
The agreement, which commits the three countries to regard an armed attack against one member as an attack against all, has raised questions about the extent of Türkiye’s potential military involvement amid continued Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.
Güler clarified that the scope of any Turkish assistance would be determined only after the Turkish Parliament ratifies the agreement and the necessary legal procedures are completed.
He said Ankara would then evaluate Saudi Arabia’s requests within the framework of parliamentary authorization before deciding on the nature and extent of its support.
The minister reiterated that Türkiye’s approach was aimed at strengthening collective security while avoiding actions that could trigger further military confrontation in the region.
Türkiye offers Egypt maritime deal
Turning to developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, Güler said Türkiye was prepared to negotiate a maritime boundary delimitation agreement with Egypt, highlighting the potential benefits for Cairo.
Following Ankara’s maritime jurisdiction agreement with Libya, the minister said Türkiye remained open to similar cooperation with Egypt.
“Our proposal to Egypt is clear,” Güler said, explaining that Cairo could secure approximately 15,000 square kilometers (5,800 square miles) of additional maritime jurisdiction by reaching an agreement with Türkiye rather than pursuing a potential arrangement with Greece.
“We are ready to sign an agreement with Egypt on the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas,” he said.
The proposal reflects Ankara’s efforts to strengthen regional cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, where competing maritime claims and energy interests have long fueled diplomatic tensions.
Defense cooperation with Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan
Güler also highlighted the Badr Memorandum of Understanding signed by Türkiye, Qatar, Indonesia and Pakistan, describing it as an important step toward expanding multilateral military cooperation.
He said the memorandum was designed to bring together the defense capabilities and resources of the participating countries while strengthening their strategic partnerships.
The agreement, built on mutual trust and shared objectives, aims to advance defense relations through closer coordination and cooperation, according to the minister.
Güler emphasized that Türkiye would continue developing defense partnerships that contribute to regional stability, enhance collective deterrence and strengthen security cooperation with its international partners.
Türkiye on Saturday accused Greece of undermining the religious freedoms of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace by appointing state-selected muftis in Komotini and Xanthi, renewing a decades-long dispute over the community’s right to choose its religious leaders.
In a statement issued Oct. 24, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said the appointments disregarded rights and freedoms protected under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and other international agreements.
“The institution of the Mufti is an integral part of the religious, social, and cultural identity of the Turkish Minority in Western Thrace,” the ministry said.
It accused Athens of ignoring the community’s wishes by refusing to recognize its elected muftis and instead imposing religious officials selected through state procedures.
“By refusing to recognize the Muftis elected by the Turkish Minority in Western Thrace, an official minority in the country, Greece is ignoring the Minority’s will and religious freedom, thereby once again revealing its distorted perspective on fundamental human rights,” the ministry said.
Ankara called on Greek authorities to recognize the community-elected religious leaders and end the appointment of state-selected muftis.
The statement followed the formal appointment of two religious officials for five-year terms. Bilal Kara Halil, a former deputy mufti in Xanthi, was appointed mufti of Komotini, known as Gümülcine in Turkish, while Şükrü Şerif Damatoğlu, who previously served as a religious official on the island of Kos, was appointed mufti of Xanthi, known as İskeçe in Turkish.
The appointments have reinforced a system in which state-appointed muftis operate alongside religious leaders chosen by members of the minority community.
The community recognizes İbrahim Şerif as its elected mufti in Komotini and Mustafa Trampa as its elected mufti in Xanthi. Greek authorities do not officially recognize either leader as the mufti of their respective cities.
The disagreement has persisted for decades, with Türkiye and minority representatives arguing that the community should have the right to elect its religious leadership, while Greece maintains that mufti appointments must follow national law.
The dispute intensified in 1985 following the death of Hüseyin Mustafa Efendi, then mufti of Komotini, when Greek authorities began appointing successors. Legislative changes in 1991 removed earlier provisions concerning elections and consolidated the appointment-based system.
Further reforms, including Law 4964/2022, placed mufti offices more explicitly under state oversight, with appointment procedures involving committees that include minority members. Greece has also appointed a mufti for Didymoteicho under the framework.
Türkiye and minority representatives base their position on the Treaty of Lausanne, the 1913 Treaty of Athens and Greece’s Law No. 2345 of 1920, which they argue supports the community’s right to elect its muftis.
They maintain that muftis serve as more than religious officials, playing a central role in the community’s social and cultural life. From this perspective, state appointments undermine the minority’s religious autonomy and its right to determine its own leadership.
Greece rejects that interpretation. Athens describes the community as a Muslim religious minority rather than an ethnic Turkish minority, citing the terminology used in the Treaty of Lausanne. Greek authorities also argue that the treaty does not require muftis to be elected.
The Greek government maintains that muftis exercise judicial and administrative responsibilities in addition to their religious duties, making their selection subject to the country’s legal framework. It has repeatedly said that it protects religious freedom and guarantees equal citizenship while rejecting efforts to redefine the minority’s official status.
Western Thrace, which includes the Greek regions of Rhodope, Xanthi and Evros, is home to a Muslim minority whose population is commonly estimated at tens of thousands to as many as 100,000 to 150,000 people, particularly in Rhodope and Xanthi.
The community maintains mosques, religious foundations and educational institutions. The management of foundations and communal property has also been a longstanding source of disagreement, including disputes over state-appointed administrators.
Türkiye has repeatedly raised minority rights and religious autonomy under the Treaty of Lausanne and related agreements, including in previous statements concerning mufti appointments in Didymoteicho and other parts of the region.
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