Law On Political Parties Must Change

Environment and Consumers' Rights Association (CETKODER) sent two million signatures to the National Assembly demanding a change in the law on political parties as well as the electoral law.

CETKODER chair Mustafa Goktas asked for the abolition of state funding to political parties.

"Two million signatures on such a campaign show how much people are bothered with the existing problems" he added.

Legislation before ECHR

Electoral legislation is criticized because of the high national barrage which prevents parties lower than 10 percent of the vote to enter the parliament, regardless of local and regional differences.

Especially the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) sees the practice as a deliberate policy to keep Kudish representatives out of the parliament.

The legislation was taken to the European Court on Human Rights (ECHR) by then DEHAP, following the 2002 elections on grounds that the electoral barrage kept 45 percent of the votes out of the parliament, denying the right to freedom of choice.

Also the law on political parties which undermines democratic rule regarding internal affairs by giving myriad power to the central administration is under much debate.(EÜ)

Law On Political Parties Must Change

İstanbul