Ideal point estimation of deputy voting in the twenty-sixth legislative period of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, 17 November 2015–24 June 2018

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this study, the legal proposals of the Turkish Republic governments, which were voted by the TGNA (Turkish Grand National Assembly) during the twenty-sixth legislative period between 17 November 2015 and 24 June 2018, are discussed with reference to ideal point analysis. Although there was a military coup attempt on 15 July 2016 against the elected government, it is noteworthy that parliament continues to function. The transformation of nearly a hundred years of the parliamentary regime into a presidential system is another remarkable feature of this period. Four parties have representatives in the parliament, including AK Party (AKP), the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The proposals are assessed under fourheadings, and it is found that the voting results differed accordingly. While HDP has a moderate line in the first group of proposals, it is noteworthy that HDP has opposed quite radically to other group proposals. When the logic of Bayesian analysis is used, it is concluded that AKP is the pro-change party, and the other three are conservative or resisting. Here, the power of the ruling party and the discipline of the party group should not be disregarded.