There are 550 members of parliament who are elected for a four-year term by a party-list proportional representation system from 85 electoral districts which represent the 81 administrative provinces of Turkey (stanbul is divided into three electoral districts, whereas Ankara and zmir are divided into two each because of their large populations). To avoid a hung parliament and its excessive political fragmentation, only parties winning at least 10% of the votes cast in a national parliamentary election gain the right to representation in the parliament.Because of this threshold, in the 2007 elections only three parties formally entered the parliament (compared to two in 2002)
Human rights in Turkey have been the subject of much controversy and international condemnation. Between 1998 and 2008 the European Court of Human Rights made more than 1,600 judgements against Turkey for human rights violations, particularly the right to life and freedom from torture. Other issues such as Kurdish rights, women's rights and press freedom have also attracted controversy. Turkey's human rights record continues to be a significant obstacle to future membership of the EU The Turkish Journalists Association says that 58 of the country's journalists have been imprisoned. A U.S. State Department spokesman, Philip Crowley, said that the United States had "broad concerns about trends involving intimidation of journalists in Turkey."
The Grand Chamber of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara.Ankara.
Recep Tayyip Erdoan has been elected three times as Prime Minister: In 2002 (with 34% of the votes), in 2007 (with 47%) and in 2011 (with 49%.)