Betrayal, dictatorship – angry protests in Istanbul

Istanbul mayor Ekrem imamoğlu has referred to the decision of the Turkish election authority for a repeat of the mayoral election in the metropolis as a "betrayal". "Try the choice that we have won, to take back," said imamoğlu on Monday in front of thousands of supporters in Istanbul. "Maybe you're upset, but never lose your hope."

More than a month after the mayoral election in Turkey, the Turkish electoral Commission YSK had to be cancelled yesterday, the vote in Istanbul. They also ordered a repeat of the election.

So she gave on Monday a request from the government party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as the state news Agency Anadolu reported. The panel justified its decision with irregularities in the election and ordered a repeat of the 23. June.

The election Commission had recognized the election victory of opposition leader of the CHP, Ekrem imamoğlu, in April. However, it could be the mandate is now removed again.

"Maybe you're upset, but never lose your hope": the mayor Ekrem imamoğlu. Reuters

After the cancellation of the municipal election imamoğlu criticized the election Commission YSK sharp. In front of many followers, he spoke Beylikdüzü shortly before midnight in the quarter. "I condemn the high authority for the elections," he cried. The cancellation of the vote was a sneaky decision.

pure dictatorship

The Deputy CHP head Onursal Adigüzel, said on Monday: "This Regime that is ignoring the will of the people and the laws disregarded, is neither democratic nor legitimate. It is a pure dictatorship."

The Council of Europe, the Turkish electoral authority YSK criticized for its decision on Monday evening. In a statement, Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland said: "the decision of The High electoral Council has the potential to damage the trust of the Turkish voters in the electoral authorities." The necessary conditions for free and fair elections would have to be verified before election day and not afterwards.

Jagland referred to the numerous complaints of the ruling AKP party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after their narrow defeat in the race for the most important mayor's post in the country. She had not objected, for example, that some of the helpers at the ballot box as state prescribed to be officers.

Analog procedure

imamoğlu drew attention to the fact that the presidential election last year, with the same, now by the AKP objected to the choice of helpers had taken place. Then the election was confirmed, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in office, Yes, probably faulty, said imamoğlu.

imamoğlu to voice his constituents consolation. Some were hopeless. You should not cry, said imamoğlu, who in the course of his 20-minute speech, the Jacket, the shirt sleeves rolled up, and immediately again with the election campaign began. "You will see, we will win", he cried. The crowd in the Background called for in the chants of the resignation of the election authority and chanted "right, law, justice" and "thief Tayyip" in reference to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also AKP-chief.

The Council of Europe had to the election on may 31. In March a delegation of Observers be sent. In view of the conflicts of the extremely scarce outgoing municipal election, he had extended at the beginning of April in an "extraordinary step", the mandate of its election observers.

The Turkish foreign Ministry rejected the criticism immediately. During the election, the observer delegation of the Council of Europe have spoken positively about the competence of the electoral Council. The same electoral Council, have now taken in accordance with the law, the decision for a new election. This had to be respected, it said in the statement from Ankara on Monday evening and continued: "We reject the politically-motivated criticism that some foreign interlocutors about the decision and the YSK."

ACP was unable to catch up

imamoğlu the local elections in Istanbul on March 31. March won by a margin of only about 24'000 votes, ahead of Ex-Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. After the opposition of the government party, the AKP, and a recount in several districts, the difference shrank, could not be regained by the ACP but. The capital city of Ankara, which also went to the Opposition, and the economic metropolis of Istanbul were ruled for 25 years by Islamic-conservative mayors. The defeat for the AKP in these cities was a loss of face for Erdogan, who was once mayor of Istanbul.

The ACP requested that a repetition of the vote in Istanbul and called for, among other things, a Review of the election workers. Prosecutors have initiated after investigation into the allegation of irregularities in the election.

International attention

The state Agency reported that it had been found that 43 authorities employee would, in conjunction with the network of U.S.-exiled preacher Fetullah Gulen. Erdogan sees Gulen the puppet master behind the failed military coup of 2016. Gülen rejects this allegation.

The week-long wrangling over the result in the biggest city of Turkey has also been pursuing international attention. The Turkish Lira immediately after the decision of the panel. Turkey is since the end of the year in the recession. Inflation is consistently high at around 20 percent. Especially food products are always more expensive.

The President and the ACP-chief had adversity shortly after the election, of the rule and the "theft of the ballot box". Last Saturday, he had once again made it clear that he considers the vote in Istanbul for unlawfully. So he also increased the pressure on the High election Commission, the request for cancellation.

across the Country, Erdogan's AKP in the local elections as the strongest party. However, they lost in the metropolises of encouragement. Four of the five largest cities in the country went to the Opposition.

About 57 million Turks were on the 31. March called to choose in 81 provinces mayors, councilors and other local politicians. The turnout was about 84 percent. (sda/afp)

Created: 07.05.2019, 07:14 PM