ABSTRACT
Since the 1983 national elections, Turkey has undergone dramatic political, economic, social, and demographic transformation and has seen the gradual return of a pluralist political system (Yes¸ilada 2002a: 161). Certain limitations on individual civil and political rights remained in place due to the provisions of the 1982 constitution. However, with the end of the Cold War and Turkey’s subsequent signing of a customs union agreement with the European Union, some of the provisions of this draconian constitution were reformed in 1995 (ibid.: 162). Further reform packages have been introduced since. However, further reform and revision are needed especially with respect to the Law on Political Parties (SPK) and the Deputy Electoral Law.
