Turkey’s electoral commission announced on Monday it has authorized 23 parties to take part in an early election set to be held in November, less than half the number of political movements in the country.
The High Election Board said 23 of the total 48 political parties met the largely procedural criteria to participate in the November 3 poll, including all nine parties currently represented in parliament and several major movements left outside after the 1999 election.
Amongst them, according to AFP, are two parties that Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has labeled a threat to Turkey's stability -- the Justice and Development Party (AK), which has its roots in a banned Islamist movement, and the pro-Kurdish People's Democracy Party (HADEP).
Political parties have to gain at least 10 percent of the national vote in order to win a place in parliament. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
