Istanbul
16 May 2023
Mélanie Vogel, co-chair of the European Green Party and Mina Jack Tolu, committee member of the European Green Party comment:
“The parliamentary and presidential elections in Turkey are an event of major importance for Turkey and for Europe.
Provisional results are showing that our member party, the Green-Left Yeşil Sol Parti (YSP) – which the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) ran under – obtained 8.8% percent of the votes and will have more than 60 seats in the Turkish Parliament.
We have also observed record voter turnout, from 87% up to more than 93%. Citizens exercised or tried to exercise their right to vote for a different Turkey. We are moved by the tremendous efforts of civil society organisations and electoral observers to protect voting stations across the country. Reports of intimidation of voters in Kurdish regions show that such civil initiatives are needed now more than ever. We must continue to remain vigilant against any threats to the integrity of elections in Turkey.
As the European Greens, we condemn the blatant attacks by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s regime on the Kurdish community, journalists, as well as members of the opposition, such as attempts to outlaw one of the main opposition parties HDP, and attacks at opposition rallies. Today our thoughts are with all of the people who have been imprisoned and targeted in the last years, such as the Kurdish community and the LGBTI community – who have been targeted like never before during this campaign.
Erdoğan is not defeated and democracy is under threat. What we have seen on the ground in these elections is that the opposition has been more united than ever before. This shows that even in such a divided and polarised country, it is possible to unify people with very different ideas and platforms to build a democratic society.
A run-off election is set to take place on 28 May between Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, as neither appears to reach 50% of the votes. The next two weeks will be critical and we will closely follow the developments. Whatever the outcome on 28 May, we will continue to support our Green partners and those who work for a democratic, inclusive Turkey.
A democratic Turkey is possible.
For more information, you can contact:
Teo Comet
Coordinator of the EGP delegation to Turkey
teo.comet@europeangreens.eu
+90 541 120 89 58
European Green Party
Rue du Taciturne 34, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
www.europeangreens.eu
