Main opposition CHP plans ‘election safety’ talks with other political parties

ANKARA

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has set up a delegation tasked with holding “election safety” talks with other political parties.

“In order to discuss provisions in the bill regarding election alliances and ‘election security’ as well as to exchange views to ensure ‘election safety,’ a delegation has been set up,” the CHP said in a statement on March 1.

Following talks with political groupings, the delegation will also request meetings with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) that submitted the bill, which is currently being discussed at a parliamentary commission.

The legislative proposal submitted by the AKP and MHP primarily paves the way for a pre-election alliance.

But it also includes provisions concerning “election safety,” according to which the ballot boxes could be relocated for “security reasons” and constituencies can also be merged together or mixed.

The new regulation also changes the definition of “the area of a ballot box,” which paves the way for private security officers, armed personnel and municipal officers to enter ballot box rooms. It also allows citizens to file a complaint about ballot box officers or voting procedures and police forces to be present in the ballot rooms.

Under the new regulations, unsealed ballot papers will also be regarded as valid.

On a related note, the CHP will hold talks with political parties that have not joined the AKP and MHP’s election alliance, to propose fielding a joint candidate in the upcoming presidential election, CNN Türk has reported.