Felicity Party
The Felicity Party (Turkish: Saadet Partisi, SAADET) is an Islamist Turkish political party. It was founded in 2001, and mainly supported by conservative Muslims in Turkey.
Felicity Party Saadet Partisi | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | SAADET (official) SP (unofficial) |
| Leader | Temel Karamollaoğlu |
| Founder | Recai Kutan |
| Founded | 20 July 2001 |
| Preceded by | Virtue Party |
| Headquarters | Ziyabey Cad. 2. Sk. No: 15, Ankara, Turkey |
| Newspaper | Millî Gazete |
| Youth wing | Genç Saadet |
| Membership (2024) | 243,312 |
| Ideology | Millî Görüş Islamism Religious nationalism |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| National affiliation | Felicity and Future Alliance |
| Colours | Hot pink (customary) |
| Grand National Assembly | 20 / 600 |
| Metropolitan municipalities | 0 / 30 |
| Provinces | 0 / 51 |
| District municipalities | 1 / 973 |
| Belde Municipalities | 3 / 390 |
| Metropolitan municipality councillors | 9 / 2,591 |
| Provincial councillors | 3 / 1,251 |
| Municipal Assemblies | 295 / 20,498 |
| Party flag | |
| Website | |
| saadet | |
| |
It was founded on 20 July 2001 after the Virtue Party (FP) was banned by the Constitutional Court. While the party's reformist wing formed the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the hardliners founded the Felicity Party. Although an Islamist party, its policy platform covers the whole span of political issues in Turkey.
The Felicity Party's vote has been weakened by the success of the moderately Islamic Justice and Development Party government. It has repeatedly condemned the Turkish government's desire to join the European Union, and relationship with Israel and the United States. It has argued that Turkey must adapt its military and foreign policy stance to meet what it argues are increasing threats coming from the West to all Muslim countries. The Party's platform is based strongly around Necmettin Erbakan's ideas and philosophy.