GERMANY: Turkish citizens living in Germany have the possibility for the first time to vote in their home country's presidential election at a makeshift polling station set up at Berlin's Olympic stadium

Record ID: 328937

  • Title: GERMANY: Turkish citizens living in Germany have the possibility for the first time to vote in their home country's presidential election at a makeshift polling station set up at Berlin's Olympic stadium
  • Date: 31st July 2014
  • Summary: TURKISH FLAG VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAITING TO VOTE TURKISH PASSPORT AND HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (German) FERIDE BANGCI SAYING: "Well, it is the first time since the founding of Cumhuriyet Trkiye (Republic of Turkey). And so its very good that we have a determining influence on it despite the fact that we don't live there." (SOUNDBITE) (German) SEVER TEVEKKUL SAYING: "Well, it's like the Turkish republic is today born again. So far they have only seen us a a cash cow. But now we are saved. After the first stamp I am a free man." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BEING CHECKED FOR THEIR IDENTITY CARDS (SOUNDBITE) (German) NALAN OZTURK SAYING: "Well, I say that I have two homelands - Germany and Turkey. And as important as Germany is to me, Turkey is as well. Even though I spend the majority of my time here in Germany. I feel very close to Turkey, my family is from Turkey, I go there every year. So it is very important to me what is happening there." OLD COUPLE WALKING TO OLYMPIC STADIUM PEOPLE MINGLING OUTSIDE OLYMPIC STADIUM TURKISH CONSUL GENERAL FOR BERLIN, AHMET BASAR SEN, TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (German) CONSUL GENERAL FOR BERLIN, AHMET BASAR SEN, SAYING: "We are happy with it (turnout). And we will be more happy if more people turn up and vote." COUPLE WALKING INTO STADIUM WIDE OLYMPIC STADIUM
  • Embargoed: 15th August 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: General,People
  • Reuters ID: LVA3AHBLXO47Q5I94NYJXY27KHQ
  • Story Text: It was a special day for many Turks living abroad on Thursday (July 31). Not only is it the first time they will be able to directly vote for the president but Turks living abroad can vote where they live - meaning they do not have to travel to the country or its border in order to cast their ballots.
    Polling stations opened across Germany on Thursday where Turkish nationals can vote until Sunday (August 3) in their country's presidential election. To the delight of the voters.

    "Well, it is the first time since the founding of Cumhuriyet Trkiye (Republic of Turkey). And so its very good that we have a determining influence on it despite the fact that we don't live there," Feride Bangci told Reuters TV.
    "So far they have only seen us a a cash cow," said Sever Tevekkul. He even called the election the rebirth of Turkey.
    Preparations for the voting took months: Firstly, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had to officially agree to the voting taking place in Germany. Then a suitable place had to be found. Finally, the Olympic Stadium in Berlin was found and opened it gates to. Polling stations are also located in Hannover, Duesseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Munich and Karlsruhe.
    The Consul General for Berlin, Ahmet Basar Sen, came in Thursday morning to rally the troops. He was especially concerned about the turnout. "We are happy with it (turnout)," he said. "And we will be more happy if more people turn up and vote." In Berlin alone there are 140,000 eligible voters, he said. But it is uncertain whether they'll all come to cast their ballots.
    But it's not just a question of turning up for Turkish nationals. They have to register online, set a date and a time and are only allowed to vote at that prearranged time. An obstacle especially for elderly voters, many critics say.
    But that did not deter the many people milling around the gates of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, eager to cast their ballots.
    Nalan Ozturk is a solicitor living in berlin who has both German and Turkish passports.

    "Well, I say that I have two homelands - Germany and Turkey," she explains. "And as important as Germany is to me, Turkey is as well. Even though I spend the majority of my time here in Germany. I feel very close to Turkey, my family is from Turkey, I go there every year. So it is very important to me what is happening there."
    Until now, Turkish presidents were elected by parliament.
    Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, in office since 2003, is running for the post that until now has been largely ceremonial. Opinion polls place him well ahead of his competitors.
    He has said he will be a more assertive president if elected and his party has proposed changing the constitution to turn the office into an executive presidency with greater powers.
    Parliament's two biggest opposition parties are backing Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, former head of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, as their candidate for president.
    Selahattin Demirtas, head of the pro-Kurdish left-wing People's Democratic Party, is also running in the race.
    If none of the candidates win more than 50 percent of the vote, a second round will be held on Aug. 24.
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