ANKARA
Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party submitted a proposal Monday for a constitutional amendment to set the age of candidacy at the parliamentary level at 18.
The aim with the change is to encourage more young people to get involved in politics, the proposal said.
Over 200 deputies, including Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, have signed the legislative proposal and submitted it to the parliamentary speaker's office.
If passed, Turkish citizens who turn 18, will be eligible to become candidates in parliamentary elections, regardless of having served the compulsory military service or not, which applies to all male citizens in the country.
"The young are offered the right to have a voice in national and global politics and the right to become a part of changing and developing politics," the proposal said. "It is a significant democratic step."
In 2006, a proposal was submitted by the AK Party to reduce the age for parliamentary eligibility from 30 to 25, a measure that was approved.
In Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, citizens 18 years of age or older can participate in national, regional and local elections.
