As the deadline to submit their candidates in the run-up to the June 7 parliamentary elections nears, political parties in Turkey have been involved in the endeavor of fine-tuning their lists of candidates before the submission deadline.
The bell had already tolled, as a decision by Turkey’s top election body prompting many to hold their breath was published in the Official Gazette late on April 4. Accordingly, political parties will have to name their candidates for at least 41 provincial constituencies by April 7. Otherwise, they will not be able to run in the June 7 elections.
CHP is the sole party to conduct primaries
As the sole party to conduct primaries, the social-democratic main opposition CHP has already named 362 of their candidates in 55 constituencies. It will name the rest of its 188 candidates, including 37 candidates who will have the chance to use the right to a quota, at a party assembly meeting which will kick off at 8 p.m. on the evening of April 6.
The Central Executive Board (MYK) of the party has given CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu carte blanche to name the 188 candidates. The names of those candidates selected by Kılıçdaroğlu will be submitted to the Supreme Election Board (YSK) after they are approved by the party assembly on the evening of April 6.
In total, 2,822 people have applied to become a nominee and run on the CHP ticket.
During the primaries, party members selected fresh faces, including a considerable number of females and young individuals, at the cost of disappointing the old guards who once held power within the party. Accordingly, it is already clear new names will make up the majority of the CHP’s electoral lists.
Kılıçdaroğlu is expected to hold rallies in more than 50 provinces, with the first held in the Kartal district of Istanbul on April 11. The election declaration will be announced in Ankara on April 19.
