TURKEY-ELECTION/OSCE Turkey election observers cite Erdogan, ruling party, for tainted election campaign

Record ID: 150552

  • Title: TURKEY-ELECTION/OSCE Turkey election observers cite Erdogan, ruling party, for tainted election campaign
  • Date: 8th June 2015
  • Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (JUNE 8, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS AT NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPECIAL CO-ORDINATOR AND LEADER OF THE SHORT-TERM OSCE OBSERVER MISSION, TINY KOX, SAYING: "Contrary to election day, too many elements in the electoral campaign did not meet international standards and n
  • Embargoed: 23rd June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA11HQFY3YRLQFKDQJZAVGT3G97
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: International election observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) said on Monday (June 8) that the campaign in the run-up to Turkey's parliamentary election was unacceptable and did not meet international standards.
    During a news conference in the capital Ankara on Monday the monitors cited attacks, a lack of media freedom and the active campaigning by the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as reasons.
    "Contrary to election day, too many elements in the electoral campaign did not meet international standards and national obligations. To mention some, the unacceptable violence especially towards one political party which endangered the elections, injured many and killed some. The active campaigning of the president whereas the constitution obliges him to be non-partisan and perform his duties without bias," said the special co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission, Tiny Kox.
    On Friday (June 5) two blasts ripped through a Kurdish rally in the city of Diyarbakir killing two and wounding more than 100.
    Initial reports said there had been one explosion but a senior security source told Reuters there were two blasts. Officials initially blamed a faulty power transformer at the rally site but later ruled that possibility out.
    Another observer at Monday's news conference said she was concerned about "intimidation" of media critical of the ruling AK Party.
    "We observed that media freedom is an area of serious concern. Media and journalists critical of the ruling party were subject to pressure and intimidation during the campaign," said the special co-ordinator of the short-term OSCE observer mission, Vilija Aleknaite Abramikiene.
    Turkey has been plunged into uncertainty and weeks of political turmoil after the ruling AK Party lost its parliamentary majority in weekend polls, dealing a blow to President Erdogan's ambitions to acquire sweeping new powers.
    Instead of the two-thirds majority he had wanted to change the constitution and create a new presidential republic, the AK Party, while remaining the biggest party, failed even to achieve a simple majority.
    The outcome augurs weeks of unpredictability as parties vie to form a coalition and possible early elections.
    The precarious result may also stir concern in Western capitals that see NATO member Turkey as an important island of political stability bordering Syria, Iraq and Iran. Nearly two million Syrian refugees now live in Turkish camps, Islamic State militants stand on the country's borders and the United States keeps an air base at Incirlik, in south-east Turkey.
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