The İYİ (Good) Party, which has announced its election manifesto for the June 24 general elections, promised to eliminate an ongoing state of emergency, known as OHAL, in the country as well as reduce the country’s 10 percent election threshold.
The party’s election manifesto was made public by leader and presidential candidate Meral Akşener at party headquarters in Ankara on Wednesday.
Turkey will hold snap presidential and general elections on June 24
“We will end OHAL as soon as we come to power,” said Akşener.
The state of emergency was declared for three months on July 20, 2016 due to a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016. It has so far been extended seven times, the last time being in April.
Akşener also promised to lower Turkey’s 10 percent election threshold to 5 percent.
Despite calls from the EU and opposition parties in Turkey, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has refused to lower the election threshold during the 16 years it has remained in power.
The İYİ Party leader also revealed plans to sell Turkish public broadcaster TRT, which she said has no function other than serving as the mouthpiece of the AKP government although it is funded with taxpayer money.
In recent years TRT has been the subject of growing criticism from opposition parties for not allocating sufficient airtime to their election campaigns and discriminating against them.
The İYİ Party was established on Oct. 25, 2017 by Akşener and a group of politicians who parted ways with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Akşener sought to take over MHP leadership from Devlet Bahçeli, but when her efforts failed, she established her own party.