ANKARA, June 24, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Turkey’s main opposition party expressed
alarm on Sunday over the number of complaints of voting violations in the
country’s restive southeast, as Turks went to the polls in the tightest
election in recent years.
The Republican People’s Party (CHP), the party of President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s main challenger Muharrem Ince, said that party officials had
confirmed cases of inconsistencies in the Sanliurfa province.
“From Sanliurfa, there have been many complaints,” spokesman Bulent Tezcan
told reporters in Ankara. “Our colleagues intervened where (the issues)
occurred.”
He said complaints had been made to neighbourhood election committee and
officials had approached the Higher Election Board (YSK).
“We are trying to ensure ballot box safety,” he added.
Voting in Istanbul, Erdogan played down any worries about vote security
saying: “I have been informed that there is no serious problem across
Turkey.”
During the press conference, Tezcan played a video from the district of
Suruc in Sanliurfa — which the party said it had confirmed was genuine — in
which a man said there were more votes in the ballot box than the number of
votes already cast.
Four people had been killed earlier this month during campaigning in Suruc,
an area with a large Kurdish community where the pro-Kurdish Peoples’
Democratic Party (HDP) is expected to poll well.
Tezcan cited another instance from the Eyyubiye district of Sanliurfa where
he said 100 votes had been brought to the ballot box overnight for Erdogan’s
“People’s Alliance” of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) with
the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
Tezcan also denounced the presence of armed people in the streets of Suruc,
who he said were threatening the election atmosphere.
“They are trying to pressure voters in Suruc.. they are trying to create
something like a terror atmosphere for voters on election day,” he warned.
Analysts say that a transparent vote is crucial for Turkey in the twin
legislative and parliamentary elections which are seen as the toughest test
Erdogan has undergone at the ballot box.
Tens of thousands of Turkish citizens are responding to calls from the
opposition to monitor the polls for a clean election and a delegation of
observers from the OSCE is also in place.