Jump to content

Left Party (Turkey): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Monkbot (talk | contribs)
Bots
3,694,069 edits
m Task 20: replace {lang-??} templates with {langx|??} ‹See Tfd› (Replaced 2);
 
(38 intermediate revisions by 24 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{about|the political party in Turkey|the Polish party|Free and Solidary|the Slovak party|Freedom and Solidarity}}
{{about|the political party in Turkey|the Polish party|Free and Solidary|the Slovak party|Freedom and Solidarity}}
{{expand Turkish|Özgürlük ve Dayanışma Partisi|date=December 2015}}
{{expand Turkish|topic=gov|Özgürlük ve Dayanışma Partisi|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox political party
{{Infobox political party
| name = Left Party
| name = Left Party
Line 7: Line 7:
| colorcode = {{party color|Freedom and Solidarity Party}}
| colorcode = {{party color|Freedom and Solidarity Party}}
| leader = Önder İşleyen<ref name="YargıtayCB">{{cite web |url=https://www.yargitaycb.gov.tr/icerik/1165|title=Sol Parti |publisher=[[Court of Cassation (Turkey)|Court of Cassation]]|language=tr |access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref>
| leader = Önder İşleyen<ref name="YargıtayCB">{{cite web |url=https://www.yargitaycb.gov.tr/icerik/1165|title=Sol Parti |publisher=[[Court of Cassation (Turkey)|Court of Cassation]]|language=tr |access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref>
| ideology = [[Socialism]]<br/>[[Left-wing populism]]<br/>[[Anti-capitalism]]<br/>[[Antimilitarism]]<br/>[[Secularism]]
| ideology = [[Socialism]]<br/>[[Left-wing populism]]<br/>[[Anti-capitalism]]<br/>[[Secularism]]
| headquarters = [[Ankara]], [[Turkey]]
| headquarters = [[Ankara]], [[Turkey]]
| european = [[Party of the European Left]]
| european = [[Party of the European Left]]
Line 20: Line 20:
| newspaper =
| newspaper =
| position = [[Left-wing politics|Left-wing]] to [[Far-left politics|far-left]]
| position = [[Left-wing politics|Left-wing]] to [[Far-left politics|far-left]]
| membership_year = 2022
| membership_year = 2024
| membership = {{increase}} 5,419<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yargitaycb.gov.tr/icerik/1165|title=Sol Parti|publisher=[[Court of Cassation (Turkey)|Court of Cassation]]|access-date=10 January 2022|df=mdy-all|language=tr}}</ref>
| membership = {{increase}} 5,764<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yargitaycb.gov.tr/icerik/1165|title=Sol Parti|publisher=[[Court of Cassation (Turkey)|Court of Cassation]]|access-date=11 March 2023|df=mdy-all|language=tr}}</ref>
| national = [[United June Movement]]
| national = [[United June Movement]] (2015–2022) <br> [[Union of Socialist Forces]] (2022–2023)
| flag = [[File:Solparti-bayrak.svg|200px|Flag of Left Party]]
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|1|973|hex={{party color|Left Party (Turkey)}}}}
| seats1_title = [[List of municipalities in Turkey|District municipalities]]
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|5|20952|hex={{party color|Left Party (Turkey)}}}}
| seats2_title = [[2014 Turkish local elections|Municipal Assemblies]]
}}
}}
The '''Left Party''' ({{lang-tr|Sol Parti}}, often written as '''SOL Parti'''), is a [[secularism|secular]], [[socialism|socialist]] [[list of political parties in Turkey|political party in Turkey]].<ref name="ÖDP’nin yeni adı Sol Parti oldu">{{Cite news|title=ÖDP’nin yeni adı Sol Parti oldu |url=https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/gundem/2019/12/22/odpde-yeni-isim-onerisi-sol-parti/ |newspaper=Gazete Duvar |date=22 December 2019 |access-date=6 April 2020}}{{in lang|tr}}</ref> The Party was founded after Freedom and Solidarity Party ({{lang-tr|Özgürlük ve Dayanışma Partisi - ÖDP}}) has decided to change its name as the Left Party at the 8th Extraordinary Congress held in Ankara on December 22, 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Turkey’s leftist Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) renamed Left Party |url=https://www.duvarenglish.com/politics/2019/12/24/turkeys-leftist-freedom-and-solidarity-party-odp-renamed-left-party/ |newspaper=Duvar English |date=24 December 2019 |access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref>
The '''Left Party''' ({{langx|tr|Sol Parti}}, often written as '''SOL Parti''') is a [[secularism|secular]], [[socialism|socialist]] [[list of political parties in Turkey|political party in Turkey]].<ref name="ÖDP’nin yeni adı Sol Parti oldu">{{Cite news|title=ÖDP'nin yeni adı Sol Parti oldu |url=https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/gundem/2019/12/22/odpde-yeni-isim-onerisi-sol-parti/ |newspaper=Gazete Duvar |date=22 December 2019 |access-date=6 April 2020}}{{in lang|tr}}</ref> The Party was founded after the Freedom and Solidarity Party ({{langx|tr|Özgürlük ve Dayanışma Partisi – ÖDP}}) decided to change its name to the Left Party at the 8th Extraordinary Congress held in Ankara on December 22, 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Turkey's leftist Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) renamed Left Party |url=https://www.duvarenglish.com/politics/2019/12/24/turkeys-leftist-freedom-and-solidarity-party-odp-renamed-left-party/ |newspaper=Duvar English |date=24 December 2019 |access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref>


Although after the foundation the leadership of the Left Party did not completely rule out the legacy of its predecessor (ÖDP), which was more inclined to [[libertarian socialism]] and [[pluralism (political philosophy)|political pluralism]] ideologically, the party tends to differentiate itself from the past.<ref name="Alper Taş: Sol Parti'de mütevazı olarak yer alacağım">{{Cite news |title=Alper Taş: Sol Parti'de mütevazı olarak yer alacağım, yeni yüzlerin olması daha iyi |url=https://www.independentturkish.com/node/109276/r%C3%B6portaj/alper-ta%C5%9F-sol-partide-m%C3%BCtevaz%C4%B1-olarak-yer-alaca%C4%9F%C4%B1m-yeni-y%C3%BCzlerin-olmas%C4%B1-daha |newspaper=The Independent Türkçe |date=26 December 2019 |access-date=6 April 2020}}{{in lang|tr}}</ref> It now adheres to the guiding principles of socialist politics (''including public ownership, social justice, and equality''), embraces the ideas and historical achievements of [[Marxism|Marxist]] and [[left-wing]] revolutionary tradition in Turkey (''more specifically the party cadres consisted of former militants and sympathizers of radical-left [[Devrimci Yol]] movement in the 1970s''), and included the elements of [[left-wing populism]] in its manifesto.<ref>{{cite web | title =SOL Parti Manifestosu| url = https://solparti.org/manifesto | access-date = 26 July 2021}}{{in lang|tr}}</ref>
Although after its foundation the leadership of the Left Party did not completely rule out the legacy of its predecessor (ÖDP), which was more inclined to [[libertarian socialism]] and [[pluralism (political philosophy)|political pluralism]] ideologically, the party tends to differentiate itself from the past.<ref name="Alper Taş: Sol Parti'de mütevazı olarak yer alacağım">{{Cite news |title=Alper Taş: Sol Parti'de mütevazı olarak yer alacağım, yeni yüzlerin olması daha iyi |url=https://www.independentturkish.com/node/109276/r%C3%B6portaj/alper-ta%C5%9F-sol-partide-m%C3%BCtevaz%C4%B1-olarak-yer-alaca%C4%9F%C4%B1m-yeni-y%C3%BCzlerin-olmas%C4%B1-daha |newspaper=The Independent Türkçe |date=26 December 2019 |access-date=6 April 2020}}{{in lang|tr}}</ref> It now adheres to the guiding principles of socialist politics (including public ownership, social justice, and equality), embraces the ideas and historical achievements of the [[Marxism|Marxist]] and [[left-wing]] revolutionary tradition in Turkey (more specifically, the party cadres consist of former militants and sympathizers of radical-left ''[[Devrimci Yol]]'' movement in the 1970s), and included the elements of [[left-wing populism]] in its manifesto.<ref>{{cite web | title =SOL Parti Manifestosu| url = https://solparti.org/manifesto | access-date = 26 July 2021}}{{in lang|tr}}</ref>


In retrospect, neither the Left Party nor its predecessor ÖDP demonstrated significant electoral success in Turkey. The party has never been able to achieve vote share more than Turkey's 10 percent national election threshold. Thus, it did not have any opportunity to be represented in the parliament as a party. However, the party launched and carried out several political campaigns to build [[extra-parliamentary opposition]] in Turkey, often together with other left-wing groups and parties, civil society organizations and trade unions. Also, in different local elections, it had minor achievements in places like [[Hopa]]. Today, the Left Party has no single leader. Instead, it is ruled by the Board of Presidents consisting of four members (including Önder İşleyen [official leader], Pelin Bektaş, Çiçek Çatalkaya ve İlknur Başer).
In retrospect, neither the Left Party nor its predecessor ÖDP demonstrated significant electoral success in Turkey. The party has never been able to achieve a vote share of 1%, remaining far below Turkey's 10 percent national election threshold. Thus, it did not have any opportunity to be represented in the parliament as a party. However, the party launched and carried out several political campaigns to build [[extra-parliamentary opposition]] in Turkey, often together with other left-wing groups and parties, civil society organizations and trade unions. Also, in different local elections, it had minor achievements in places like [[Hopa]]. Today, the Left Party has no single leader. Instead, it is ruled by the Board of Presidents consisting of four members (including Önder İşleyen [official leader], Pelin Bektaş, Çiçek Çatalkaya and İlknur Başer).


The party is a member of the [[Party of the European Left]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Parties |url=https://www.european-left.org/our-parties/ |website=Party of European Left |access-date=24 March 2022}}</ref> and, up until July 2022, was nationally affiliated with the [[United June Movement]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Özlen |first1=Tunca |title=Birleşik Haziran Hareketi'nin başına ne geldi? |url=https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/forum/2018/11/28/birlesik-haziran-hareketinin-basina-ne-geldi |website=Gazete Duvar |date=28 November 2018 |access-date=24 March 2022}}</ref> when it was announced, in a press conference in Ankara, that the party along with the [[Communist Party of Turkey (current)|Communist Party of Turkey]], the [[:tr:Devrim_Hareketi|Revolutionary Movement]] and the [[Communist Movement of Turkey]] would form a coalition for the 2023 national election, called the [[Union of Socialist Forces]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/siyaset/sosyalist-guc-birligi-yola-cikti-ulkemizin-gelecegine-birlikte-sahip-cikiyoruz-1971875 |title=Sosyalist Güç Birliği yola çıktı: 'Ülkemizin geleceğine birlikte sahip çıkıyoruz' |work=Cumhuriyet |access-date=2022-08-20}}</ref>
The party is a member of the [[Party of the European Left]] and is nationally affiliated with the [[United June Movement]].


==History==
==History==
Line 36: Line 41:
It was founded in 1996 as a merger of several [[left-wing]] groupings. In the [[1999 Turkish general election|1999 general election]], its first major electoral outing, the party polled 0.8% of the vote, falling far behind the 10% threshold required for parliamentary representation. A deep internal crisis followed and by 2001, several of the initial groupings left. In 2002 elections, the party's share of the national vote fell further to 0.3%.
It was founded in 1996 as a merger of several [[left-wing]] groupings. In the [[1999 Turkish general election|1999 general election]], its first major electoral outing, the party polled 0.8% of the vote, falling far behind the 10% threshold required for parliamentary representation. A deep internal crisis followed and by 2001, several of the initial groupings left. In 2002 elections, the party's share of the national vote fell further to 0.3%.


In the 2004 local elections, the ÖDP gained control of two [[town hall]]s in [[Artvin Province|Artvin]] and [[Yozgat Province|Yozgat]] provinces. In these elections, the ÖDP had joined an electoral coalition with the pro-Kurdish [[Democratic People's Party (Turkey)]] (DEHAP) and the left Social Democrat SHP ([[Sosyaldemokrat Halk Partisi]]). At the next 2009 local elections, Mithat Nehir was the sole victorious ÖDP candidate in the entire republic (17,723 votes for the whole country, i.e. 0.04%), and became mayor of the [[Samandağ]] [[ilçe|district]].<ref>[http://yerelsecim2009.hurriyet.com.tr/ilcedetay.aspx?cid=430&bs=1%20Results%20for%20Samandağ Results for Samandağ], [[Hürriyet]]</ref><ref>[http://yerelsecim2009.hurriyet.com.tr/partidetay.aspx?pid=19&sid=2%20ÖDP%20-%20Genel%20Bilgiler National results for the ÖDP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311025339/http://yerelsecim2009.hurriyet.com.tr/partidetay.aspx?pid=19 |date=2016-03-11 }}, [[Hürriyet]]</ref>
In the 2004 local elections, the ÖDP gained control of two [[town hall]]s in [[Artvin Province|Artvin]] and [[Yozgat Province|Yozgat]] provinces. In these elections, the ÖDP had joined an electoral coalition with the pro-Kurdish left-wing [[Democratic People's Party (Turkey)]] (DEHAP) and the center-left [[Social Democratic People's Party (Turkey)|Social Democratic People's Party]] (SDHP). At the next 2009 local elections, Mithat Nehir was the sole victorious ÖDP candidate in the entire republic (17,723 votes for the whole country, i.e. 0.04%), and became mayor of the [[Samandağ]] [[ilçe|district]].<ref>[http://yerelsecim2009.hurriyet.com.tr/ilcedetay.aspx?cid=430&bs=1%20Results%20for%20Samandağ Results for Samandağ], [[Hürriyet]]</ref><ref>[http://yerelsecim2009.hurriyet.com.tr/partidetay.aspx?pid=19&sid=2%20ÖDP%20-%20Genel%20Bilgiler National results for the ÖDP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311025339/http://yerelsecim2009.hurriyet.com.tr/partidetay.aspx?pid=19 |date=2016-03-11 }}, [[Hürriyet]]</ref>


[[Ufuk Uras]], who was then the president of the party was elected to the parliament from the independents' ticket, during the [[2007 Turkish general election|2007 general election]]. The party's formal lists, which hadn't fielded candidates in several key constituencies in support of the left-wing candidates standing on the independents' ticket, polled 0.15% in that poll.
[[Ufuk Uras]], who was then the president of the party was elected to the parliament from the independents' ticket, during the [[2007 Turkish general election|2007 general election]]. The party's formal lists, which hadn't fielded candidates in several key constituencies in support of the left-wing candidates standing on the independents' ticket, polled 0.15% in that poll.
Line 42: Line 47:
In the 6th congress held on June 20, 2009, the delegates elected Alper Taş as the new leader, solely nominated as the chairmanship. Apart from the discussions on some political headlines, Party Assembly consisting of sixty people was also assigned. In this congress, the signals that the party will have a more anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist route were given.
In the 6th congress held on June 20, 2009, the delegates elected Alper Taş as the new leader, solely nominated as the chairmanship. Apart from the discussions on some political headlines, Party Assembly consisting of sixty people was also assigned. In this congress, the signals that the party will have a more anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist route were given.


Former chairman Ufuk Uras resigned from ÖDP on June 19, 2009, one day before the congress. During a press conference at Parliament, Uras said, “We are resigning together with the Freedom Left, who have worked in the founding of the party and held various positions at different times in the ÖDP -- from provincial and district branch administration to membership in the party council, central steering and discipline committees -- where we have been struggling since its founding for a historic meeting that overrides the existing structures.”
Former chairman [[Ufuk Uras]] resigned from ÖDP on June 19, 2009, one day before the congress. During a press conference at Parliament, Uras said, “We are resigning together with the Freedom Left, who have worked in the founding of the party and held various positions at different times in the ÖDP – from provincial and district branch administration to membership in the party council, central steering and discipline committees – where we have been struggling since its founding for a historic meeting that overrides the existing structures.”


In the 8th extraordinary congress on 22 December 2019, the party changed its name to Left Party.<ref>{{cite web |last1=odpadmin |first1=odpadmin |title=Kongremiz toplandı ve ismimiz Değişti: Yeni isim SOL PARTİ {{!}} Özgürlük ve Dayanışma Partisi |url=http://portal.odp.org.tr/kongremiz-toplandi-ve-ismimiz-degisti-yeni-isim-sol-parti/ |access-date=23 December 2019 |language=tr-TR}}</ref>
In the 8th extraordinary congress on 22 December 2019, the party changed its name to Left Party.<ref>{{cite web |last1=odpadmin |first1=odpadmin |title=Kongremiz toplandı ve ismimiz Değişti: Yeni isim SOL PARTİ {{!}} Özgürlük ve Dayanışma Partisi |url=http://portal.odp.org.tr/kongremiz-toplandi-ve-ismimiz-degisti-yeni-isim-sol-parti/ |access-date=23 December 2019 |language=tr-TR}}</ref>
Line 48: Line 53:
==Tendencies==
==Tendencies==


The Libertarian Socialist Platform within the Freedom and Solidarity Party is a successor to the [[Devrimci Yol|Dev Yol]] radical left-wing movement.<ref name="Gunterp83+247">{{cite book|last1=Gunter|first1=Michael M.|title=Historical Dictionary of the Kurds|date=2010|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Pub. Group|location=Lanham|isbn=0810875071|page=83 and 247|edition=2nd}}</ref> Other minor groups are [[New Way (Turkey)|New Way]] ([[United Secretariat of the Fourth International|USFI]] member), Liberation Movement (joined [[Socialist Democracy Party]] in 2002), Odak that links to Direniş Hareketi (founded as THKP-C/Third Way and joined to [[Socialist Democracy Party]] in 2002), Socialist Labor Movement. Libertarian Left Platform, the tendency that was supportive of Ufuk Uras left the party with Uras in June 2009 and was one of the groups that eventually established the [[Peoples' Democratic Party (Turkey)|Peoples' Democratic Party]].
The Libertarian Socialist Platform within the Freedom and Solidarity Party is a successor to the ''[[Devrimci Yol|Dev Yol]]'' radical left-wing movement.<ref name="Gunterp83+247">{{cite book|last1=Gunter|first1=Michael M.|title=Historical Dictionary of the Kurds|date=2010|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Pub. Group|location=Lanham|isbn=978-0810875074|page=83 and 247|edition=2nd}}</ref> Other minor groups are [[New Way (Turkey)|New Way]] ([[United Secretariat of the Fourth International|USFI]] member), Liberation Movement (joined [[Socialist Democracy Party]] in 2002), ''Odak'' that links to ''Direniş Hareketi'' (founded as THKP-C/Third Way and joined [[Socialist Democracy Party]] in 2002), Socialist Labor Movement. Libertarian Left Platform, the tendency that was supportive of Ufuk Uras left the party with Uras in June 2009 and was one of the groups that eventually established the [[Peoples' Democratic Party (Turkey)|Peoples' Democratic Party]].


==Election results==
==Election results==
{{see also|Elections in Turkey}}
*'''General Elections'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.secim-sonuclari.com/ozgurluk-ve-dayanisma-partisi.parti|title=Özgürlük ve Dayanışma Partisi - ÖDP Partisi Seçim Sonuçları - Seçim Sonuçları|website=www.secim-sonuclari.com|access-date=2019-03-30}}</ref>


===General elections===
{| bgcolor="#f7f8ff" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: gray solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;"
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
| '''Year'''
| '''Votes'''
| '''Vote percentage'''
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
⚫
|align=center|'''[[1999 Turkish general election|1999]]'''
|248,553
|% 0.80
|-
|-
! scope="col" | Election
⚫
|align=center|'''[[2002 Turkish general election|2002]]'''
!Votes
|105,862
! scope="col" | Share
|% 0.34
! scope="col" | Seats
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! scope="col" | Leader
⚫
|align=center|'''[[2007 Turkish general election|2007]]'''
|52,195
|% 0.15
|-
|-
⚫
| [[1999 Turkish general election|1999]]
|248,553|| 0.80% ||{{Composition bar compact|0|600|{{party color|Homeland Party (Turkey, 2021)}}|#d40000|text-shadow=no}}
|rowspan="1"| Ufuk Uras
|-
⚫
| [[2002 Turkish general election|2002]]
|105,862|| 0.47% ||{{Composition bar compact|0|600|{{party color|Homeland Party (Turkey, 2021)}}|#d40000|text-shadow=no}}
|rowspan="1"| Ufuk Uras
|-
⚫
| [[2007 Turkish general election|2007]]
|52,055|| 0.15% ||{{Composition bar compact|0|600|{{party color|Homeland Party (Turkey, 2021)}}|#d40000|text-shadow=no}}
|rowspan="1"| Bekir Kemal Ulusaler
|-
| [[2023 Turkish parliamentary election|2023]]
|76,801|| 0.14% ||{{Composition bar compact|0|600|{{party color|Homeland Party (Turkey, 2021)}}|#d40000|text-shadow=no}}
|rowspan="1"| Önder İşleyen
|}
|}


*'''Local Elections'''
===Local elections===


{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
{| bgcolor="#f7f8ff" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: gray solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
| '''Year'''
| '''Votes'''
| '''Vote percentage'''
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
⚫
|align=center|'''[[1999 Turkish local elections|1999]]'''
|263,814
|% 0.84
|-
|-
! scope="col" | Election
⚫
|align=center|'''[[2004 Turkish local elections|2004]]'''
!Votes
|12,026
! scope="col" | Share
|% 0.04
! scope="col" | Number of Municipalities
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! scope="col" | Leader
⚫
|align=center|'''[[2009 Turkish local elections|2009]]'''
|-
|62,909
⚫
| [[1999 Turkish local elections|1999]]
|% 0.15
|264,136|| 0.84% ||2
|rowspan="1"| Ufuk Uras
|-
⚫
| [[2004 Turkish local elections|2004]]
|12,379|| 0.04% ||2
|rowspan="1"| Hayri Kozanoğlu
|-
⚫
| [[2009 Turkish local elections|2009]]
|67,984|| 0.17% ||4
|rowspan="1"| Hayri Kozanoğlu
|-
|[[2014 Turkish local elections|2014]]
|59,842
|0.13%
|1
|Alper Taş-Bilge Seçkin Çetinkaya
|-
|[[2019 Turkish local elections|2019]]
| colspan="4" |''Did not contest''
|-
|[[2024 Turkish local elections|2024]]
|72,124
|0.16%
|2
|Önder İşleyen
|}
|}


Line 106: Line 134:
*{{in lang|tr}} [http://www.odp.org.tr ÖDP] with a short introduction in English.
*{{in lang|tr}} [http://www.odp.org.tr ÖDP] with a short introduction in English.
*{{in lang|de}} [http://www.ozgurlukvedayanisma.com/ Freiheit und Solidarität]
*{{in lang|de}} [http://www.ozgurlukvedayanisma.com/ Freiheit und Solidarität]

{{Turkish political parties}}
{{Turkish political parties}}
{{Party of the European Left}}
{{Party of the European Left}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Freedom And Solidarity Party}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Freedom And Solidarity Party}}
[[Category:1996 establishments in Turkey]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in Turkey]]
[[Category:Left-wing politics in Turkey]]
[[Category:Left-wing politics in Turkey]]
[[Category:Libertarian socialist parties]]
[[Category:Multi-tendency organizations]]
[[Category:Party of the European Left member parties]]
[[Category:Party of the European Left member parties]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1996]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1996]]

Latest revision as of 14:47, 31 October 2024

This article is about the political party in Turkey. For the Polish party, see Free and Solidary. For the Slovak party, see Freedom and Solidarity.
Left Party
Sol Parti
AbbreviationSOL Parti
LeaderÖnder İşleyen[1]
Founded1 September 1996 (1996-21-01) (as Freedom and Solidarity Party)
December 22, 2019 (rebranding)
HeadquartersAnkara, Turkey
Membership (2024)Increase 5,764[2]
IdeologySocialism
Left-wing populism
Anti-capitalism
Secularism
Political positionLeft-wing to far-left
National affiliationUnited June Movement (2015–2022)
Union of Socialist Forces (2022–2023)
European affiliationParty of the European Left
District municipalities
1 / 973
Municipal Assemblies
5 / 20,952
Party flag
Flag of Left Party
Website
http://solparti.org

The Left Party (Turkish: Sol Parti, often written as SOL Parti) is a secular, socialist political party in Turkey.[3] The Party was founded after the Freedom and Solidarity Party (Turkish: Özgürlük ve Dayanışma Partisi – ÖDP) decided to change its name to the Left Party at the 8th Extraordinary Congress held in Ankara on December 22, 2019.[4]

Although after its foundation the leadership of the Left Party did not completely rule out the legacy of its predecessor (ÖDP), which was more inclined to libertarian socialism and political pluralism ideologically, the party tends to differentiate itself from the past.[5] It now adheres to the guiding principles of socialist politics (including public ownership, social justice, and equality), embraces the ideas and historical achievements of the Marxist and left-wing revolutionary tradition in Turkey (more specifically, the party cadres consist of former militants and sympathizers of radical-left Devrimci Yol movement in the 1970s), and included the elements of left-wing populism in its manifesto.[6]

In retrospect, neither the Left Party nor its predecessor ÖDP demonstrated significant electoral success in Turkey. The party has never been able to achieve a vote share of 1%, remaining far below Turkey's 10 percent national election threshold. Thus, it did not have any opportunity to be represented in the parliament as a party. However, the party launched and carried out several political campaigns to build extra-parliamentary opposition in Turkey, often together with other left-wing groups and parties, civil society organizations and trade unions. Also, in different local elections, it had minor achievements in places like Hopa. Today, the Left Party has no single leader. Instead, it is ruled by the Board of Presidents consisting of four members (including Önder İşleyen [official leader], Pelin Bektaş, Çiçek Çatalkaya and İlknur Başer).

The party is a member of the Party of the European Left[7] and, up until July 2022, was nationally affiliated with the United June Movement[8] when it was announced, in a press conference in Ankara, that the party along with the Communist Party of Turkey, the Revolutionary Movement and the Communist Movement of Turkey would form a coalition for the 2023 national election, called the Union of Socialist Forces.[9]

History

[edit]

It was founded in 1996 as a merger of several left-wing groupings. In the 1999 general election, its first major electoral outing, the party polled 0.8% of the vote, falling far behind the 10% threshold required for parliamentary representation. A deep internal crisis followed and by 2001, several of the initial groupings left. In 2002 elections, the party's share of the national vote fell further to 0.3%.

In the 2004 local elections, the ÖDP gained control of two town halls in Artvin and Yozgat provinces. In these elections, the ÖDP had joined an electoral coalition with the pro-Kurdish left-wing Democratic People's Party (Turkey) (DEHAP) and the center-left Social Democratic People's Party (SDHP). At the next 2009 local elections, Mithat Nehir was the sole victorious ÖDP candidate in the entire republic (17,723 votes for the whole country, i.e. 0.04%), and became mayor of the Samandağ district.[10][11]

Ufuk Uras, who was then the president of the party was elected to the parliament from the independents' ticket, during the 2007 general election. The party's formal lists, which hadn't fielded candidates in several key constituencies in support of the left-wing candidates standing on the independents' ticket, polled 0.15% in that poll.

In the 6th congress held on June 20, 2009, the delegates elected Alper Taş as the new leader, solely nominated as the chairmanship. Apart from the discussions on some political headlines, Party Assembly consisting of sixty people was also assigned. In this congress, the signals that the party will have a more anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist route were given.

Former chairman Ufuk Uras resigned from ÖDP on June 19, 2009, one day before the congress. During a press conference at Parliament, Uras said, “We are resigning together with the Freedom Left, who have worked in the founding of the party and held various positions at different times in the ÖDP – from provincial and district branch administration to membership in the party council, central steering and discipline committees – where we have been struggling since its founding for a historic meeting that overrides the existing structures.”

In the 8th extraordinary congress on 22 December 2019, the party changed its name to Left Party.[12]

Tendencies

[edit]

The Libertarian Socialist Platform within the Freedom and Solidarity Party is a successor to the Dev Yol radical left-wing movement.[13] Other minor groups are New Way (USFI member), Liberation Movement (joined Socialist Democracy Party in 2002), Odak that links to Direniş Hareketi (founded as THKP-C/Third Way and joined Socialist Democracy Party in 2002), Socialist Labor Movement. Libertarian Left Platform, the tendency that was supportive of Ufuk Uras left the party with Uras in June 2009 and was one of the groups that eventually established the Peoples' Democratic Party.

Election results

[edit]
See also: Elections in Turkey

General elections

[edit]
Election Votes Share Seats Leader
1999 248,553 0.80% Ufuk Uras
2002 105,862 0.47% Ufuk Uras
2007 52,055 0.15% Bekir Kemal Ulusaler
2023 76,801 0.14% Önder İşleyen

Local elections

[edit]
Election Votes Share Number of Municipalities Leader
1999 264,136 0.84% 2 Ufuk Uras
2004 12,379 0.04% 2 Hayri Kozanoğlu
2009 67,984 0.17% 4 Hayri Kozanoğlu
2014 59,842 0.13% 1 Alper Taş-Bilge Seçkin Çetinkaya
2019 Did not contest
2024 72,124 0.16% 2 Önder İşleyen
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Sol Parti" (in Turkish). Court of Cassation. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Sol Parti" (in Turkish). Court of Cassation. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  3. ^ "ÖDP'nin yeni adı Sol Parti oldu". Gazete Duvar. 22 December 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2020.(in Turkish)
  4. ^ "Turkey's leftist Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) renamed Left Party". Duvar English. 24 December 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Alper Taş: Sol Parti'de mütevazı olarak yer alacağım, yeni yüzlerin olması daha iyi". The Independent Türkçe. 26 December 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2020.(in Turkish)
  6. ^ "SOL Parti Manifestosu". Retrieved 26 July 2021.(in Turkish)
  7. ^ "Our Parties". Party of European Left. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  8. ^ Özlen, Tunca (28 November 2018). "Birleşik Haziran Hareketi'nin başına ne geldi?". Gazete Duvar. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Sosyalist Güç Birliği yola çıktı: 'Ülkemizin geleceğine birlikte sahip çıkıyoruz'". Cumhuriyet. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  10. ^ Results for Samandağ, Hürriyet
  11. ^ National results for the ÖDP Archived 2016-03-11 at the Wayback Machine, Hürriyet
  12. ^ odpadmin, odpadmin. "Kongremiz toplandı ve ismimiz Değişti: Yeni isim SOL PARTİ | Özgürlük ve Dayanışma Partisi" (in Turkish). Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  13. ^ Gunter, Michael M. (2010). Historical Dictionary of the Kurds (2nd ed.). Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Pub. Group. p. 83 and 247. ISBN 978-0810875074.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Left_Party_(Turkey)&oldid=1254546796"