1977 Turkish general election

1977 Turkish general election

5 June 1977
450 seats in the Grand National Assembly 226 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	72.42% (5.60pp)
First party Second party Third party   Leader Bülent Ecevit Süleyman Demirel Necmettin Erbakan Party CHP AP MSP Leader since 14 May 1972 28 November 1964 20 October 1973 Leader's seat Zonguldak Isparta Konya Last election 33.30%, 185 seats 29.82%, 149 seats 11.80%, 48 seats Seats won 213 189 24 Seat change 28 40 24 Popular vote 6,136,171 5,468,202 1,269,918 Percentage 41.38% 36.88% 8.56% Swing 8.08pp 7.06pp 3.24pp   Fourth party   Leader Alparslan Türkeş Party MHP Leader since 8 February 1969 Leader's seat Adana Last election 3.38%, 3 seats Seats won 16 Seat change 13 Popular vote 951.544 Percentage 6,42 Swing 3.04pp
Prime Minister before election Süleyman Demirel AP Elected Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit CHP

General elections were held in Turkey on 5 June 1977. Elections took place in the middle of a political race between the right-wing AP and the left-wing CHP. With the charismatic leadership of Bülent Ecevit, the CHP managed to beat one of the symbolic figures of conservative politics in Turkey, Süleyman Demirel. Voter turnout was 72.4%.

The CHP's victory was the zenith of left-wing votes in the history of the Republic of Turkey, but there were still no capable partners for the CHP to join forces to form government with since the remainder of parliament consisted of right-wing parties not eager to form a coalition with Bülent Ecevit. Finally, the CHP could not gain a vote of confidence. They would need to wait until 1978 to gain support from some smaller parties and independents to govern. The CHP could not retain power for long and soon government control passed on to the AP even as the rumblings of the 1980 military coup were beginning to be felt.

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Republican People's Party	6,136,171	41.38	213	+28
	Justice Party	5,468,202	36.88	189	+40
	National Salvation Party	1,269,918	8.56	24	–24
	Nationalist Movement Party	951,544	6.42	16	+13
	Republican Reliance Party	277,713	1.87	3	–10
	Democratic Party	274,484	1.85	1	–44
	Unity Party	58,540	0.39	0	–1
	Workers' Party	20,565	0.14	0	0
	Independents	370,035	2.50	4	–2
Total		14,827,172	100.00	450	0
Valid votes		14,827,172	96.54
Invalid/blank votes		531,038	3.46
Total votes		15,358,210	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		21,207,303	72.42
Source: Nohlen et al.