Newsletters
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's close political ally Devlet Bahceli has renewed a proposal to expand Türkiye's administrative structure to 100 provinces and 1,000 districts, outlining a plan that would also have implications for the country's parliamentary representation.
Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said in an interview published by the Turkgun newspaper on Sunday that his party had prepared a project to establish 19 new provinces and 78 new districts, increasing the current totals of 81 and 922, respectively.
He said the proposed restructuring would be based on criteria including population, development potential, geographical conditions, access to public services and strategic importance.
The MHP leader said the initiative aims to improve public administration, strengthen local governance and ensure more efficient delivery of government services.
The proposal revives a vision Bahceli previously outlined in June 2023, when he called for an administrative structure comprising 100 provinces and 1,000 districts as Türkiye entered its second century as a republic.
Beyond administrative restructuring, Bahceli acknowledged that establishing new provinces and municipalities would also have political implications.
"The establishment of new municipalities and changes in the distribution of parliamentary seats among provinces will broaden the political arena," he said in a follow-up interview published Monday.
Under Türkiye's electoral system, each province is initially allocated one seat in the 600-member parliament, with the remaining seats distributed based on population.
Creating additional provinces would therefore require a redistribution of parliamentary seats and could reshape electoral constituencies, although the overall number of lawmakers would remain unchanged.
Separately, in an Oct. 6 parliamentary group speech, Bahceli outlined the MHP's electoral ambitions, including increasing its vote share and number of lawmakers, with the goal of becoming Türkiye's largest political party.
He also described his party's political vision as "Erdogan in the executive, MHP in the legislature," while reaffirming the governing People's Alliance.
In the May 2023 parliamentary elections, Bahceli's MHP won 10.07% of the vote and secured 50 seats in the 600-member parliament, while Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the larger partner in the governing alliance, won 35.62% and 268 seats, according to official election results.
The proposal comes amid Bahceli's stated ambition to expand his party's parliamentary representation, although he has not linked the administrative restructuring plan to that electoral goal.
It remains unclear whether Erdogan's AK Party will back the renewed proposal, which would require parliamentary approval.
1 min read
In Monday's interview, Bahceli identified 19 districts that could be elevated to provincial status, including Polatli in Ankara, Alanya in Antalya, Tarsus in Mersin, Fethiye in Mugla, Midyat in Mardin and Bandirma in Balikesir.
Other proposed districts include Eregli in Konya, Unye in Ordu, Vezirkopru in Samsun, Ercis in Van, Siverek in Sanliurfa and Akhisar in Manisa.
Bahceli said the proposed 78 new districts could be established within either existing provinces or those created under the plan.
He stressed that the final selection of new provinces would depend on assessments by relevant state institutions and approval by the Turkish Parliament.
The MHP could introduce legislation to implement the proposal at a later stage, he said, without providing a timetable.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
