HDP applies to YSK for 4th time

2015-05-14 19:32:30

ANKARA (DİHA) - The Peoples Democracy Party (HDP) has made its fourth official complaint to the High Election Council (YSK) in Turkey regarding Turkish President Erdoğan violating rules on impartiality.

In a petition carrying the signature of HDP administrative council member Pervin Oduncu, the following complaint was made: "Three previous complaint have been made regarding the President’s acting like an administrator of the ruling party, in contravention of the constitutional oath of impartiality he took when elected to that post.He has also used public means to organise rallies at which he has made statements detrimental to our party and its Co-president Mr Selahattin Demirtaş and other opposition parties and their leaders. He has also exploited religious feelings and used religious symbols, jeopardising the elections to be held on 7 June. We have requested previously that the President be warned not to behave in a manner that will cast a shadow over the position he occupies. The High Election Council (YSK) has rejected our previous petitions.”

'He is violating election bans and the principle of impartiality’

The HDP petition said Erdoğan had been encouraged by the YSK's decisions and continued to act in contravention of rules on election propaganda, thereby casting a cloud over the elections. “On 11 May he organised rallies in Rize and Trabzon under the title ‘Joint Opening Ceremony and Addressing the People’ at which he violated the principle of impartiality and election bans enshrined in article 49 of Law no. 298,” the petition said.

(nt)