The Republic of Turkey is often in the spotlight because of the active role it plays on the world stage. The internal political life of this country is also of great interest. The mixed form of government in Turkey looks very confusing. What it is? This presidential-parliamentary model, due to its ambiguity, requires special explanations.
General information
The republic is the so-called transcontinental state. Its main part is located in Asia, but about three percent of the territory is in southern Europe. Aegean, Black and Mediterranean seas surround the state from three sides. The capital of the Republic of Turkey is Ankara, while Istanbul is the largest city, as well as a cultural and business center. This state has great geopolitical importance. The Republic of Turkey has long been recognized by the world community as an influential regional power. She occupies this position thanks to her achievements in the economic, diplomatic and military spheres.
Ottoman Empire
The form of government in Turkey still continues to be influenced by national characteristics and political traditions that have developed over a long history. The legendary Ottoman Empire, during its heyday, completely controlled dozens of countries and kept all of Europe at bay. The highest position in its state system was occupied by the sultan, who had not only secular, but also religious power. The form of government in Turkey in that era provided for the subordination of the clergy to the monarch. The Sultan was the absolute ruler, but delegated a significant part of his authority to advisers and ministers. Often the real head of state was the great vizier. The rulers of the bailiks (the largest administrative units) enjoyed great independence.
All inhabitants of the empire, including even the most senior officials, were considered slaves of the monarch. Surprisingly, this form of government and the administrative-territorial structure of the Ottoman period in Turkey did not provide effective control over the state. Local provincial authorities often acted not only independently, but also against the will of the Sultan. Sometimes regional rulers even fought with each other. At the end of the 19th century, an attempt was made to establish a constitutional monarchy. However, by that time the Ottoman Empire was already in deep decline, and this reform could not prevent its destruction.
Republic formation
The modern form of government in Turkey was laid down by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. He became the first president of the republic, created after the overthrow of the last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire in 1922. The huge state, which once terrified Christian European countries, finally collapsed after the defeat in the First World War. The proclamation of the republic became an official statement of the fact that the empire ceased to exist.
Revolutionary change
Atatürk conducted a set of radical transformations that facilitated a gradual transition from a religion-based monarchical state system to the current form of government in Turkey. The country has become a secular democratic republic. A series of reforms included the separation of religion from the state, the establishment of a unicameral parliament, and the adoption of a constitution. A characteristic feature of ideology, known as Kemalism, is nationalism, which the first president considered the main pillar of the political system. Despite the proclamation of democratic principles, the Ataturk regime was a harsh military dictatorship. The transition to a new form of government in Turkey was faced with active resistance from a conservative part of society and was often forced.
Administrative division
The country has a unitary structure, which is an important aspect of Ataturk's ideology. Local authorities do not have significant powers. The form of government and administrative-territorial structure in Turkey has nothing to do with the principles of federalism. All regions are subject to central authority in Ankara. Provincial governors and city mayors are government representatives. All important officials are appointed directly by the central government.
The country consists of 81 provinces, which, in turn, are divided into districts. The system of making all relevant decisions by the metropolitan government causes discontent among residents of the regions. This is especially true in provinces populated by national minorities such as Kurds. The topic of decentralization of power in the country is considered one of the most painful and controversial. Despite the protests of certain ethnic groups, there are no prospects for changing the current form of government in Turkey.
Constitution
The current version of the country's main law was ratified in 1982. Since then, more than a hundred amendments have been made to the constitution. A referendum was organized several times to decide on a change in the basic law. The form of government in Turkey, for example, has become an issue put to a universal vote in 2017. Citizens of the country were invited to express their opinion on the significant strengthening of the president’s power. The referendum results were contradictory. Supporters of empowering the head of state with additional powers won with a minimum margin. This situation has demonstrated a lack of unity in Turkish society.
The unchanging constitutional principle is that the country is a secular democratic state. The basic law determines that the form of government in Turkey is a presidential-parliamentary republic. The constitution enshrines the equality of all citizens, regardless of their language, race, gender, political opinion and religion. In addition, the basic law establishes the unitary national nature of the state.
Elections
The country's parliament consists of 550 members. Deputies are elected for a four-year term. A political party must receive at least 10 percent of the vote at the national level in order to get into parliament. This is the highest electoral barrier in the world.
In the past, the country's president was elected by members of parliament. This principle has been changed by amending the constitution, adopted by a popular referendum. The first direct presidential election took place in 2014. The head of state can hold office no more than two consecutive five-year terms. The mixed form of government in Turkey attached particular importance to the role of prime minister. However, this post will be canceled after the next election in accordance with the decision taken at a popular referendum in 2017 to strengthen the power of the president.
Human rights
The country's constitution recognizes the primacy of international law. All basic human rights enshrined in international agreements are formally protected in the country. However, the peculiarity of Turkey is that centuries-old traditions are often more important than legal norms. In the fight against political opponents and separatists, state authorities unofficially use methods that are explicitly condemned by the international community.
An example is torture prohibited by the constitution throughout the history of the republic. Official legal standards do not prevent Turkish law enforcement agencies from widely and systematically applying such interrogation methods. According to some estimates, the number of victims of torture amounts to hundreds of thousands. Especially often, these methods of exposure were exposed to participants in failed military coups.
There is also evidence of so-called extrajudicial executions (killings of suspected criminals or simply objectionable citizens by secret order of the authorities without any legal procedures). Sometimes they try to pass off such reprisals as suicide or the result of resistance at arrest. Massive human rights violations occur against Turkish Kurds, many of which hold separatist views. In the regions populated by representatives of this national minority, a large number of mysterious murders are recorded that are not properly investigated by the police. It is worth noting that official death sentences in the country have not been executed for more than 30 years.
Judicial system
In the process of creating a form of government and government in Turkey, many aspects were borrowed from Western European constitutions and laws. However, in the judicial system of this country, the concept of jurors is completely absent. Verdicts and sentences are trusted only by professional lawyers.
Military courts hear cases of soldiers and officers of the armed forces, but in the event of a state of emergency, their authority extends to civilians. Practice shows that the form of government and the form of government in Turkey are not unshakable and are easily adjusted subject to the determination of political leaders. One of the confirmations of this fact is the mass dismissal of judges that occurred after an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the president in 2016. The repression affected almost three thousand servants of Themis, suspected of political unreliability.
National composition
Unitarity is one of the fundamental principles of government and government in Turkey. In the republic created by Kemal Ataturk, no self-determination of nationalities was provided. All residents of the country, regardless of ethnicity, were considered Turks. A policy aimed at maintaining unitarity is bearing fruit. The majority of citizens in the census process prefers to call themselves Turks in questionnaires rather than indicate their actual nationality. Due to this approach, it is still not possible to find out the exact number of Kurds living in the country. According to rough estimates, they make up 10-15 percent of the population. In addition to the Kurds, in Turkey there are a number of national minorities: Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Arabs, Greeks and many others.
Denominational affiliation
Most of the country's population professes Islam. The number of Christians and Jews is very small. Approximately one in ten Turkish citizens is a believer, but does not identify with any denomination. Only about one percent of the population is openly atheistic.
