Behind the scenes of Bahçeli’s election system remarks: Alliance will be preserved, cooperation may become difficult

While discussions regarding the Presidential Government System continue within the AKP, it is stated that MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli’s stance on preserving the system is accompanied by expectations of changes to election legislation and the Law on Political Parties.

It is assessed that the new election and political parties regulation, which Bahçeli previously signaled would be "in line with the spirit of the system," aims to reshape the electoral landscape without changing the current model where executive power is concentrated in the president.

According to a report by Cumhuriyet, it is being discussed in political corridors that while the People's Alliance (Cumhur İttifakı) favors maintaining the official alliance model, formulas that opposition parties might develop outside of official alliances—such as joint lists, umbrella parties, or regional cooperation—could be subject to stricter rules.

JOINT LISTS AND TRANSFERS ON THE AGENDA

One of the topics under discussion is the nomination of candidates from different parties on another party's list. Current regulations allow parties to nominate individuals who are not their own members. Through this method, smaller parties can enter elections on the list of a party with a higher vote share; the elected MPs can then return to their own parties.

It is stated that options such as requiring candidates to have a certain period of party membership, evaluating joint lists within the scope of official election cooperation, or introducing new rules for party changes after the election could be discussed to limit this practice. Such a move is expected to particularly affect the opposition's search for single-list strategies.

PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS AND ELECTION ELIGIBILITY

It is noted that potential changes to the Law on Political Parties could also cover the topics of forming groups in Parliament and MP transfers. In the government camp, it is stated that formulas aimed at preventing the acquisition of eligibility to participate in elections through MP transfers or subsequently formed parliamentary groups could be brought back to the agenda.

The tightening of criteria for party organization, deadlines for completing congresses, and requirements for participating in elections are also counted among the possible options. It is assessed that such a regulation could be particularly effective against newly established parties that have not completed their organization nationwide.

PARLIAMENTARY SEAT DISTRIBUTION MAY BE RECALCULATED

Another topic is the recalculation of parliamentary seat distribution. It is stated that alternatives such as narrow or narrowed electoral districts, re-regulating electoral districts based on the number of MPs, and the effect of votes within an alliance on seat calculations could be brought to the table.

Although forming an alliance provides parties with an electoral threshold advantage in the current system, the distribution of seats is calculated separately based on the votes each party receives in an electoral district. Therefore, it is stated that a possible change could affect not only the opposition's cooperation models but also the balance of seat sharing within the People's Alliance.

OPPOSITION'S ELECTION COOPERATION ALSO MONITORED

It is stated that Bahçeli’s remarks are not seen as independent from the search for joint candidates and election cooperation conducted among opposition parties. Accordingly, the government wing wants to pre-define and limit flexible cooperation options outside of official alliances before the elections.

News Source: 12punto