THE EXISTING PROBLEMS IN POLITICAL PARTIES IN TURKEY

IR.409 Contemporary Issues In Turkish Politics 13.10.2014
Merve YILMAZ

THE EXISTING PROBLEMS IN POLITICAL PARTIES

Political party is a group people which seeks to achieve goals common to its members through the acquisition and exercise of political power i. Political parties are one of the most important political institutions of democracy. In this respect, for contemporary democracy understanding they are an indispensable part of the system in the country. In our country, Political parties faced with some problems. In this paper, I shall investigate existing problems about political parties in Turkey. In general, source of problems are based on legal regulation. These problems can be listed as '' intra-party democracy '', "revenue spending and state aid", ''restrictions against political parties '' and ''diminishing confidence against political parties'' ii. Today, undoubtedly one of the most important problems of political parties is the lack of intra-party democracy in Turkey. We can not talk about intra-party democracy in Turkey because if we look parties’s structure we can see that being dominance of party leaders and theirs closer persons. In general the party leader is says final word that’s why this oligarchic structure is an obstacle to the functioning of democracyiii. Additionally, nomination process is other problem in intra-party democracy. Authority of nominating have been controlling under of oligarchic group for that oligarchic group’s maintaining dominance in all political parties in our country. However the most important thing in democratic regimes, that organizational structure of political parties must carry democratical features. Second problem is about diminishing confidence against political parties. In recent years, due to the incidents (like corruptions) public's confidence has decreased to political parties and deputies. Additionally, political parties's being insufficient on the solution of problems and being confrontational has created a trustless profile in our country. iv Another problem is about revenue spending and state aid. Government giving economic support to political parties because of being public benefit organizations. That economic support are made in proportion to the ratio of the votes or seats in parliament. In Turkey, there are big differences between the parties's percentage of votes and the ratio of the seats. Therefore coming out inequality; this situation is for the benefit of the major parties but the rest affecting negative.v Last problem related prohibitions against political parties. In 1965, The local organizing of the parties be banned by Political Parties Law, 'monotype' organizational model has been applied. For instance ‘’grey wolves-ocaklar-’’ closed. This kind of organizing was contributing to public’s political education and increasing consciously political participationvi. Moreover the effects of parties in society decreased with this type of model. Other than this forbidden there are many constraints to be member of political parties. For example, if you are instructor in a university or officer, you can’t join to any party. That forbidden has been reducing quality, richness and diversity. On the other hand, in democratic regimes should not be restrictions, whoever wants to do politics, that person should able to do politics. To sum up, political parties are like bridge between state and public. They are required for the functioning of democracy. It is important to emphasize, prohibitions and restrictions should be able to remove, politics should be accessible for everyone. Then in-party democracy should be apply and in political parties responsibility of policy-makers should not be depend on party leader, should be depend on party programs and public.