Fourteen parties running in Turkish elections

ANKARA - In addition to independent candidates, 14 parties are vying for seats in Turkey's 550-member parliament in general elections on Sunday.
Opinion polls tip the governing Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) to come first, followed by the social-democrat Republican People's Party and the Nationalist Action Party.
Parties running in the election must overcome a 10 percent national threshhold to win parliamentary representation. Here is a list of the parties in the running:

- Turkish Communist Party (TKP), left-wing
- Felicity Party (SP), Islamist
- Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP), left-wing
- Independent Turkey Party (BTP), ultranationalist and Islamist
- Justice and Development Party (AKP), Islamist-rooted and conservative
- Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), liberal
- Nationalist Action Party (MHP), nationalist
- Republican People's Party (CHP), centre-left
- Democrat Party (DP), centre-right
- Labour Party (IP), left-wing and nationalist
- Young Party (GP), right-wing populist
- People's Labour Party (EMEP), extreme left-wing
- Bright Turkey Party (ATP), nationalist
- The People's Ascent Party (HYP), left-wing

07/20/2007 15:42 GMT