ISTANBUL

- Today, Monday, 6 Turkish opposition parties announced their political program that they will follow if they win the next general elections, which will be held according to official statements on May 14.

The announced program, which was published in a book consisting of 240 pages, and Al-Jazeera Net reviewed a copy of it, included all areas in domestic and foreign policies, especially the economy, investment, refugee files and the granting of citizenship to foreigners.

The announcement of the program, which was called "the text of the joint policies agreement," came at an introductory ceremony attended by the heads of the parties participating in the meetings of what is known as the "hexagonal table", which are the parties: the Republican People, the Good, the Democracy and Progress, the Future, the Happiness, and the Democratic parties.

The text of the agreement consists of 9 main headings, and contains more than two thousand laws, legislation, and electoral promises that the opposition parties undertake to work to achieve if they win the elections and take over the rule of the country.

The parties to the six-party opposition table during a previous meeting last year (communication sites)

internal politics

In the document revealed today, the leaders of the six parties pledged to make the presidential term of office 7 years non-renewable, to return the presidential residence to Çankaya Palace in Ankara, and to open all presidential residences and palaces to citizens and visitors.

The opposition promised to sell all presidential planes.

They also pledged to reduce the electoral threshold to 3% for parties to enter parliament, and to provide assistance from the state treasury to parties that manage to obtain 1% of the vote or more.

The document stated that the opposition would cancel the system of trusteeship over municipalities.

Economics and taxes

Among the most prominent aspects of the government program for the opposition in terms of economy and investment are:

Working to reduce inflation to one digits consistently within two years, while working to restore consideration to the Turkish lira.

Doubling per capita national income on US dollars to 200% within 5 years.

Transferring the branches of the Central Bank of Turkey located in Istanbul to the capital, Ankara.

The Turkish opposition program includes canceling the Istanbul Canal project, which is supported by the Justice and Development government and President Erdogan personally (Anatolia)

Canceling the Istanbul Canal project, and examining the work carried out in this regard so far from the economic, legal and technical aspects.

Cancellation of all tenders and contracts related to medical cities projects that have not yet been completed.

Abolition of exit fees from the country and reduction of passport issuance fees.

Foreign Policy

As for foreign policy, the opposition program focused on the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean regions, which are witnessing steady tension with Greece.

The text of the Turkish opposition program stated: "Turkey will respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries of the Middle East, and will not interfere in the internal affairs of these countries. Turkey will not be a country that takes sides in dealing with problems among the countries of the region, but rather a country that facilitates solutions."

On the other hand, the opposition said that "work will be done to transform the Aegean Sea into a zone of peace, cooperation and good neighborliness."

The Turkish opposition will also work, if it wins the elections, to bring the country back to participating in the American F-35 aircraft manufacturing project, according to the document announced today.

File of refugees and foreigners

According to the text of the ruler's policy agreement issued by the opposition today, work will be done to return the Syrian refugees who hold a temporary protection card (their number is more than 3 and a half million) as soon as possible, and agreements will also be concluded with the refugee-exporting countries in this regard.

Institutions related to refugees will be restructured, led by the Directorate of Migration Management, while not allowing the formation of “uncontrolled” refugee gatherings in Turkish neighborhoods, regions and states.

The opposition pledged to reconsider the readmission agreement concluded between Turkey and the European Union in 2016 related to the distribution of refugees entering the European Union through Turkey.

The opposition program also included stopping the granting of citizenship to foreigners in return for buying real estate or placing deposits in foreign currencies in Turkish banks.

To date, the opposition parties have not yet decided on choosing their candidate for the presidential elections in the face of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but it is expected to be announced in February, according to observers.