Turkish political parties are a numerous and colorful lot, but the four major parties currently represented in parliament will be the only real contenders in the June 7 legislative elections. According to official figures released March 31, no fewer than 97 parties are active today. The leaders of the Sept. 12, 1980, military coup had outlawed all political parties after taking over, so the parties today were all founded in the years since the coup. The 13-year rule of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) has seen a real boom in parties, with 57 new ones established since 2002.
Some newcomers stand out in name and platform. The Electronic Democracy Party, or e-Party, for instance, advocates unrestricted Internet access, a serious issue in a country where the authorities often block or attempt to block websites, including giants like Twitter. The Turkish Party of the Unemployed and Laborers supports factory strikes and demonstrations by the unemployed. It has recently organized a campaign against the construction of the country's first nuclear power plant. The Women’s Party, as its name suggests, consists of women. Its members are campaigning for a transition from a “men’s democracy” to a real democracy. People with disabilities have created the Unimpeded Life Party and the Unimpeded Turkey Party to advocate for their rights.
