November 2015 General Election - Election Promises - Election Promises Comparison

Political Parties Election Promises

Election Promises under 5 Headlines

As the 2015 general elections approach, the four parties in Parliament publicly shared their promises to the voter base. So what do the parties propose to the voters in their election manifestos that serve as a “road map”?

This time, more economy-focused promises concerning the vast fixed- and low-income earning segments of society stood out in party manifestos and leaders’ rallies compared to the previous elections. The Justice and Development Party (AK Party), with a very comprehensive manifesto, stated everything it did in the last 13 years, giving it as reference to that which it plans to do from here onwards. The promises of opposition parties are focused more on minimum wage, diesel fuel support and retirement salaries. We compared the manifestos announced by the AK Party, Republican People’s Party (CHP), Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and, lastly, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) under the headlines economy, reconciliation process, presidential system, education and health.

Ak Parti AK Party Justice and Development Party CHP CHP Republican People's Party MHP mhp Nationalist Movement Party HDP HDP Peoples' Democratic Party
Presidential System The AK Party which had a separate headline in its election manifesto for the presidential system said, “We believe the presidential system is a mode suitable management model,” while listing its reasons. The CHP, which prefers the continuation of the parliamentary system against the presidential system in its election manifesto, promises that it will strengthen the principle of separation of powers. In its manifesto, the CHP also stated that the authorities of the president will be restricted under the headline “Impartial president.” The MHP, which considers the parliamentary system, taking as basis the unitary national state structure of the Republic of Turkey as necessary in terms of continuing the democratic political system, does not find the presidential system suitable in particular as well as semi-presidential and similar systems. The HDP, which promised a civil constitution and democratic autonomy, stated that it will introduce the co-prime ministry system in the event that parties applying the co-chair system come to power.
Reconciliation Process The AK Party, which stated in its election manifesto that it places people at the center, emphasized its approach to the reconciliation process in the future as: “In the upcoming period, we are going to maintain in determination what we achieved in the past in the fields of basic rights and freedoms. Making the adjustments we made through the transformation of mentality and an efficient implementation a part of life, and increasing the quality of our adjustments is going to be a fundamental priority for the upcoming period.” The CHP, which stated its approach to the reconciliation process under the headline “Equal Citizenship and Pluralism,” will be approaching “the Kurdish question with the embracing democratic citizenship understanding. The problem will be solved through a national political agreement by a Parliament committee that includes all parties in Parliament.” In its manifesto, which the MHP advocates that the expansion policy failed, the party stated that the solution depends on firstly deactivating terrorist elements. In its election manifesto, the MHP stated that national unity and togetherness is possible only through a nation understanding built on common values and a common past and with a common future. The HDP, which stated that they accept the 10 articles announced at Dolmabahçe Palace regarding the reconciliation process as the principle framework of reconciliation, declared that they will defend an unarmed solution and democratic politics under every condition.
Economy Minimum wage, which increased 415 percent to TL 949 in the AK Party’s 13-year term in power, is foreseen to exceed TL 1,000 in the second half of 2015. The AK Party, which announced in 2015 that it will be giving TL 10 billion cash in grants and expand the scope of agriculture insurances, promised to establish 14 new research centers while opening 2.3 million decares of land to irrigation by the end of 2019 with the East Anatolia Project including 14 provinces. The AK Party, which announced that those who are SSK and Bağ-Kur pensioners will receive a TL 100 increase in their wages, informed that those who receive TL 1,000 to TL 1,100 will have their wages increased to reach TL 1,100. To encourage youth to marry, the AK Party, which developed support models (dowry account), is going to give a TL 5,000 state support to those who save TL 25,000 in their dowry account. The AK Party, which started to provide an education loan to all students who request it, stated that it increased the loan and scholarship amounts from TL 45 in 2002 to TL 330 in 2015. The AK Party, which promised to prepare a new “Higher Education Framework Law” that focuses on university autonomy, stated that students will contribute to recruitment through part-time work. The CHP, which announced that it will lift the income tax on minimum wage, promised to increase wages to TL 1,500. The CHP also announced that it will reduce the price of diesel oil used by farmers for production purposes to TL 1.5 per liter. The CHP, which announced that it will abolish the check-up and medicine shares and difference fees for pensioners, remarked that it will be giving a wage bonus for the pensioners on every Ramadan and the greater Eid bayrams. The MHP, which announced that it will increase the minimum net wage to TL 1,400, is going to provide all minimum wage earners living in metropolitan municipalities TL 100 local transportation support as well as TL 250 for rent assistance to families who are not home-owners. The MHP, which stated that it will abolish the diesel fuel, manure and fodder taxes, promised to provide diesel fuel to farmers at TL 1.75 per liter. The MHP announced that it will grant pensioners a Pensioner Support Fund of TL 1,400 twice per year in March and September. As marriage support, the MHP is going to provide a two-year interest-free marriage loan of TL 10,000 through state banks. The MHP is going to provide needy families a job opportunity or TL 700 “Family Support.” The HDP, which announced it will increase minimum wage and retirement salaries to TL 1,800, will not take taxes from small farmers for diesel fuel and manure. The HDP, which announced that with the Basic Security Package it will provide 10 m3 water and 180kW/h electricity per month to every home free-of-charge, promised that it will also provide heating support. Tenants who are not home-owners will be given TL 250 rent support.
Health The AK Party, which underlined that all individuals aged under 18 are under health insurance through the “General Health Insurance” system it put into effect, promises to produce our own vaccination with the “National Vaccination” project. The AK Party, which promises to implement the ONCOGEN project that provides customized cancer treatment, noted that the rate of quality beds in hospitals will increase to over 90 percent in the upcoming period. The CHP, which stated that it will abolish the share, additional fee and other similar payments received from citizens for health services, promised that within the scope of the Family Insurance Program, the General Health Insurance premiums of poor citizens will be covered through the Treasury. Preventive and basic health services will be provided free-of-charge. Health services will be provided free-of-charge.
Education The AK Party, which started to provide an education loan to all students who request it, stated that it increased the loan and scholarship amounts from TL 45 in 2002 to TL 330 in 2015. The AK Party, which promised to prepare a new “Higher Education Framework Law” that focuses on university autonomy, stated that students will contribute to recruitment through part-time work. The CHP, which promised to implement the 1+8+4 education system composed of a year of preschool education, eight years primary education and four years middle school education, stated it will apply the 13-year full day, quality and free compulsory education model. The MHP, which announced that every student, on the condition that they are high achievers throughout their education period, will receive a higher education coupon of up to TL 10,000, stated that once they are employed, it will collect the money within four years, interest-free. The HDP, which stated that all scholarships and share payments will be given to students outright, promised that the share in secondary education and education fees will be abolished.