Secularism in Turkey

Two people have been arrested in connection with the shooting outside an election campaign office of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Istanbul on April 25.

The suspects opened fire at the AKP's election campaign office in the Güngören district. No injuries were reported in the incident, but the office's windowpanes were shattered.

The opposition Nation Alliance will not be able to run with its name in 16 constituencies, the election watchdog has ruled.

The two biggest components of the alliance, the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the İYİ (Good) Party, asked the YSK to appear on the ballot paper under the title of the Nation Alliance in 16 provinces where they decided to run on a single slate.

Main opposition Republican People's Party CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairperson Canan Kaftancioglu (C) speaks to her supporters in Istanbul, 6 September, 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE/SERPIL GEDIK

Nine female candidates will race in the May 14 elections to enter the parliament from Burdur, one of the 20 provinces in Türkiye that has never had a female deputy throughout the history of the republic.

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the joint presidential candidate of the Nation Alliance and the Republican People's Party (CHP) leader, has unveiled an action plan he will implement in the first 100 days of his government if elected in the May 14 elections.

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the presidential candidate of Nation Alliance and Republican People's Party (CHP) leader, pledged on April 12 to build houses for the earthquake victims free of charge if they come to power in the May 14 elections.

Presidential candidate of ATA Alliance, Sinan Oğan, and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nation Alliance's candidate for presidency, met on April 12 for discussions on election security.

İYİ (Good) Party Chair Meral Akşener has vowed jobs and a good future for the Turkish youth if the opposition alliance wins the presidential and parliamentary polls on May 14.

Nongovernmental organizations and activists struggling for equal representation of women in politics and social life have criticized the low number of women on political parties' parliamentary candidate lists, describing it as "dishonorable."

The joint presidential candidate of the opposition, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, has reiterated his objective of establishing the "Organization of Peace and Cooperation in the Middle East" if he comes to power in the May polls, stressing that there is no reason why Türkiye, Iran, Iraq and Syria can't live together in peace.