22 May 2018•Update: 22 May 2018
By Ferdi Turkten and Aylin Sirikli
ANKARA
A total of 74 independent candidates from 32 different provinces are trying to get elected as new members of Parliament in Turkey’s upcoming June 24 early elections.
Turkish political parties submitted their list of parliamentary candidates contesting the June 24 early elections to the Supreme Board of Election (YSK) in capital Ankara Monday, which was the last day for independent candidates to apply for their candidacies.
The 74 independent candidates come from 32 different provinces, including Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, southern Antalya, Adana, Hatay and Mersin, western Balikesir, Bursa, Kocaeli, Denizli, Edirne and Tekirdag, central Konya, Eskisehir, Sivas and Tokat, northern Samsun, Trabzon and Rize, southeastern Diyarbakir, Mardin, Batman and Sanliurfa provinces.
Most of the independent candidates are applying from Istanbul (10), followed by Diyarbakir (8) and Ankara (7). Some applicants are listed as retired, regular workers, farmers, students and unemployed.
Eight political parties are contesting the early elections: ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Free Cause (Huda-Par) Party, newly-formed Good () Party, Felicity (Saadet) Party and the Patriotic (Vatan) Party.
For the first time in Turkish political history, political parties will go to after forming alliances. Also, mobile ballot boxes, candidate with 100,000 signatures and the fact that presidential and parliamentary elections both would be held on the same day are some of the firsts in this election process.
Turkey’s ruling AK Party and the MHP will enter the race as the People's Alliance while the CHP, Party, SP and Democrat Party (DP) will participate as the Nation Alliance.
