General elections were held in Turkey on 14 October 1973. The Republican People's Party (CHP) emerged as the largest party, winning 185 of the 450 seats with 33% of the vote. The Justice Party (AP) led by Süleyman Demirel, which had won a majority in the previous elections in 1969, lost over a third of its seats, winning just 149. This was a result of two new parties, the National Salvation Party and the Democratic Party, splitting the right-wing vote.^[1]

Quick Facts 450 seats in the Grand National Assembly 226 seats needed for a majority, Turnout ...

1973 Turkish general election

← 1969 14 October 1973 1977 →
450 seats in the Grand National Assembly 226 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	66.82% (2.47pp)
First party Second party   Leader Bülent Ecevit Süleyman Demirel Party CHP AP Last election 27.36%, 143 seats 46.53%, 256 seats Seats won 185 149 Seat change 42 107 Popular vote 3,570,583 3,197,897 Percentage 33.30% 29.82% Swing 5.94pp 16.71pp   Third party Fourth party   Leader Ferruh Bozbeyli Süleyman Arif Emre Party DP MSP Last election – – Seats won 45 48 Seat change New New Popular vote 1,275,502 1,265,771 Percentage 11.89% 11.80% Swing New New
Largest party by province.
Prime Minister before election Naim Talu Elected Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit CHP

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The CHP formed a government with the religious-oriented National Salvation Party on 26 January 1974. However, the government lasted only ten months before its fall.

Within the left-wing prisoners jailed in Mamak following the 1971 Turkish military memorandum, the Revolutionary Youth Federation of Turkey (DEV-GENÇ), People's Liberation Party-Front of Turkey and People's Liberation Army of Turkey members supported voting for Republican People's Party of Bülent Ecevit meanwhile Revolutionary Workers' and Peasants' Party of Turkey boycotted the elections.^[2]

Voter turnout was 66.8%.^[3]