1977 Constantinopolitan general election (Queen of Cities)

The 1977 Constantinopolitan election was held on February 6, 1977. In the aftermath of the instability of the previous Parliament, the major parties adopted a law on electoral reform, raising the threshold to enter the legislature to 5%. Faced with opposition on all fronts Djemal Erkment announced that a snap election would be held in the beginning of 1977, thus allowing minor parties to merge into larger ones as coalitions were not allowed to run.

Despite not ensuing in a clear ideological majority, this election could be considered as a victory for the parties on the left wing of the political spectrum as they increased their seats 84 seats. However, difficult relations between parties did not allow for the emergence of a stable majority following the election. Djemal Erkmen remained prime minister under a minority government of the Social Democrats and the New Left Party.

Electoral system
This election was the first one held under the new 1976 Electoral Law that retained a proportional system while introducing new barriers, such as a 5% threshold and a new process for the registration of political parties, who now had to pay a deposit and gather endorsements among local politicians. While voting remained compulsory, the fines for not participating were no longer enforced, leading to a decrease in turnout.

Background
The year that had passed since the previous election was marked by the introduction of numerous reforms by the leftist government Erkmen government. However, these efforts were constrained by the obstruction and demands of smaller political parties. Erkmen's plan to adopt a universal health care system were bogged down by budgetary negotiations with the centrists while the plan to create a mandatory state pension system were killed off by the opposition. Moreover, parliamentary opposition forced the government to abandon its main economic policies (nationalizations, expanded labor rights, new social housing, maternity leave) and its proposals for constitutional reform.

Government formation
As the leader of the party with the most seats, Djemal Erkmen was tasked with assembling a governing coalition. Despites their disagreement with the 1976 Electoral Law the members of the New Left Party voted to accept Erkmen's offer to join the government as a junior partner. The centrist Progressive Party was also included in the new government. The new three-party coalition possessed 99 seats in the legislature (two short of a majority) but was eventually voted in by 98 votes to 79 thanks to the abstention of the Turkish National Party and some members of the Citizens' Front.