Critical work before the polls: Bahçeli requested, the government pressed the button
Following Bahçeli's remarks, regulations that would affect election alliances and joint list methods are being discussed in government circles.
12punto
Following MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's statement that the election system and the Law on Political Parties should be reconsidered, it is stated that new topics regarding election legislation are being evaluated within the government front.
According to a report by Cumhuriyet, it is being discussed in AKP circles that the debate has already begun so that changes can be completed before a possible election calendar comes to the agenda. It is stated that the work may be aimed more at limiting non-alliance election cooperation models rather than completely eliminating the official election alliance system.
It is assessed that the current official alliance system is expected to be preserved, and that both the AKP and MHP need this structure. On the other hand, it is claimed that rules are being focused on that would make it difficult for opposition parties to act through joint lists, umbrella parties, or different election cooperation methods without forming an official alliance.
JOINT LISTS AND SMALL PARTIES ON THE AGENDA
Among the topics discussed in the corridors are practices such as small parties entering elections under the list of a single party, and individuals belonging to different parties returning to their own parties after being nominated from joint lists. It is stated that subjecting such cooperation to more transparent, binding, and auditable rules is on the agenda.
It is also assessed that the search for cooperation, which has been discussed again among opposition parties recently, is effective in the calculations on the government front. It is stated that especially options for joint lists or umbrella structures could be made more limited with new regulations.
It is noted that conditions regarding small parties within the scope of the Law on Political Parties are also on the table. Tightening the organization requirements sought for parties' eligibility to enter elections, introducing new criteria for provincial and district organizations, and changing the vote threshold required for Treasury aid are shown among the possible topics.
It is also stated that regulations regarding primary elections, the preparation of parliamentary candidate lists, and the financial auditing of parties could be included in the work. However, no official statement has been made yet regarding the scope and calendar of the regulations.