Left-wing terrorists operate on a much smaller scale in western Turkey. A prominent Turkish businessman was assassinated in his office in Istanbul by left-wing terrorists in January 1996. The Turkish political system, as defined by the 1982 Constitution, is a secular, parliamentary democracy with executive, legislative and judicial branches. President Suleyman Demirel was elected in May 1993. The legislative branch of the government is the Turkish Grand National Assembly, which consists of 550 deputies elected in national elections at least every five years.
Elections are by proportional representation.
To participate in the distribution of seats, a party must obtain at least ten percent of the votes cast at the national level. The last national elections were held in December, 1995. Local elections are held every five years as well, most recently in March 1994. The judicial system consists of a constitutional court, a series of state courts that consider terrorist crimes, a council of state, and a high council of judges and prosecutors. ANAP was formed in 1983 by former President Turgut Ozal.