Politics Ledger · Middle East & North Africa
Türkiye
Electoral autocracyPresidential republicUnitary
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In charge
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
President
Time in power
12.2 yrs
since 2014
Government seats
55%
majority
Next national vote
2028-05
Presidential and parliamentary
Governance score
26/100
composite of five indices
Founded by Atatürk on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire as a secular, Western-facing nation-state, Turkey alternated between multiparty democracy and military tutelage. Under Erdoğan it has moved to an executive presidency and competitive authoritarianism.
Leadership
Who Governs Türkiye
Head of state
Holds executive powerRecep Tayyip Erdoğan
President · AKP
Since 28 August 2014 · 12.2 years
Age 72 (born 1954)ManRoute to power: won a popular election
Ruling coalition
People's Alliance: AKP and MHP (about 327 seats)
Main opposition
Fractured: Özgür Özel's new party (backing jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu) and the court-reinstated CHP leadership of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu
Last national election
28 May 2023
Presidential runoff
Erdoğan won 52.2% against Kılıçdaroğlu.
Next national election
By May 2028
Presidential and parliamentary
İmamoğlu has been jailed since March 2025; a court reinstated Kılıçdaroğlu as CHP chair in May 2026, splitting the party.
Parliament
Grand National Assembly (unicameral)
Seat distribution (Approximate group sizes, October 2026 (592 filled)), ordered from economic left to right.
| Party | Ideology | Seats | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justice and Development Party (AKP) | Islamic conservatism, Neo-Ottomanism | 277 | governing |
| Yeni Parti (Özel) (YP) | Kemalism, Social democracy | 91 | opposition |
| Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) | Kurdish rights, Left-wing | 56 | opposition |
| Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) | Turkish nationalism | 50 | coalition |
| Republican People's Party (CHP) | Kemalism | 44 | opposition |
| Others and independents (OTH) | Various | 39 | opposition |
| Good Party (İYİ) | Turkish nationalism, Secularism | 30 | opposition |
| New Welfare Party (YRP) | Islamism | 5 | opposition |
Ideology
Party Landscape
Each party placed on economic and social axes, sized by seats.
Institutions
The System
- Official name
- Republic of Türkiye
- Capital
- Ankara
- Population
- 86 million
- Statehood
- Republic proclaimed 1923; Constitution 1982 (presidential system from 2018)
- System
- Presidential republic
- Structure
- Unitary
- Current constitution
- 1982
- Legislature
- Grand National Assembly
- Lower / sole chamber
- Grand National Assembly (unicameral) (600 seats)
- Electoral system
- Two-round presidential vote; D'Hondt list PR in 87 districts with a 7% alliance threshold.
- Term limits
- President: two five-year terms, but a third run is allowed if parliament calls an early election.
Sources
- TBMM party distribution
- YSK
- Reuters, May 2026
- EIU Democracy Index 2024; Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2025; RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025; Transparency International CPI 2024; IPU Parline, 2026; V-Dem v15 Liberal Democracy Index (approximate five-year readings)
Last verified 2026-10-29. Party placements are editorial estimates.
Data as of 2026-10-29.