Turkey calls on US to respect do-over decision for election in Istanbul

ANKARA

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy on May 9 called on the United States to “respect” the decision made by the country’s election watchdog for a do-over of the Istanbul elections.

“Everyone must respect this decision taken by the Supreme Board of Elections [YSK] who has the power to control and supervise elections from our Constitution and whose members are elected from among the members of the higher judicial bodies,” Aksoy said in a written statement.

Free and democratic elections are an indispensable part of Turkey’s state tradition, said the spokesperson, noting that the high participation rate achieved in each election best demonstrates Turkish people’s commitment to democracy and their confidence in the electoral system.

The decision to renew the elections in Istanbul was made due to the identification of “unlawful elements” on March 31 elections and it is “independent of the election results,” he said.

Aksoy stressed that similar developments had taken place in the United States and other countries and that these were resolved within the framework of the rules of democracy.

“The most accurate reflection of the will of the Turkish people to the polls is a requirement of both our laws and our international obligations,” he said, adding that this would be the priority of Turkey in the elections to be held on June 23 as it was in the previous elections.

U.S. State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus issued a statement on the re-run, saying that “we, like other friends of Turkey, take note of this extraordinary decision.”

“Turkey has a long, proud democratic tradition. We urge Turkish authorities to carry out this election in keeping with its laws, and in a manner that is consistent with its OSCE commitments, its status as a NATO ally, and its aspirations for membership in the European Union,” the statement from State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said on May 8.