Müsavat Dervişoğlu's 'electoral system' advice to other parties: An indispensable necessity

Stating that it is the system itself that harms diversity in politics, Dervişoğlu said, "May God grant it, I will bring to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) how to transition to a parliamentary democratic system without using any of the powers currently granted to the president.

My advice to other parties should be this as well. There is no such thing as 'The powers are ready, let us use them a little too.'

Implementing a regime that will serve the interests of Turkey and meet the expectations of the Turkish nation is an indispensable necessity for us," he said.

Dervişoğlu continues to answer questions sent by young people via social media. The new episode of the "Equal Perspective" program, prepared within this framework, was published on Dervişoğlu’s YouTube account. When asked for his views on the D'Hondt system and the electoral threshold, Dervişoğlu said:

"All of these contain different debates within them. Electoral systems are designed both to ensure justice in representation and to facilitate the formation and management of governments. The D'Hondt system is also applied in many countries, but in countries where the system is applied, governments are usually elected from parliament. On one hand, you are governed by the Presidential Government System, on the other hand, your electoral system is a matter of debate, and on another hand, the government does not emerge from within the parliament and is not audited by the parliament at the same time. That is when electoral systems, the D'Hondt system, and electoral thresholds become a subject of debate. Since the President is governing, and since the parliament is not auditing; a question such as 'what is the need for a threshold' can occupy the public agenda. All of these are justified and relevant debates."

"WE ARE BEING GOVERNED BY A SYSTEM WHOSE NATURE IS UNCLEAR"

Stating that the D'Hondt system was prepared to ensure justice in representation and to make it easier to produce a government, Dervişoğlu said, "It was suitable for those conditions of Turkey, but we are now being governed by a system described as the Presidential Government System, the nature of which is unclear. Because we are governed by the Presidential Government System, this threshold is also a high threshold. It can be considered for review in terms of ensuring justice in representation. But no matter what you do, the D'Hondt system, which will determine the number of deputies, is the easiest system to implement," he stated.

"THE THING THAT HARMS DIVERSITY IS THE SYSTEM ITSELF"

After explaining the D'Hondt system on the board in the studio, Dervişoğlu criticized the Presidential Government System, saying, "The thing that harms diversity in Turkish politics is the system itself. I am in favor of the implementation of the parliamentary democratic system in order to save Turkey's future—and in your potential government; may God grant it, I will bring to the TBMM how to transition to a parliamentary democratic system without using any of the powers currently granted to the president. My advice to other parties should be this as well. There is no such thing as 'The powers are ready, let us use them a little too.' Implementing a regime that will serve the interests of Turkey and meet the expectations of the Turkish nation is an indispensable necessity for us," he said.

News Source: 12punto