CHP continues harsh language against election watchdog over disputed referendum

ANKARA

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Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kılıçdaroğlu has continued to slam the Supreme Election Board (YSK) over the recent disputed referendum results, saying its judges should be investigated.

“From whom did members of the YSK receive the instruction to deem unsealed ballot papers valid? They have cast a shadow over the judicial profession. They have cast a shadow over the reputation of the judiciary.
 Along with bringing the referendum into question, they have also cast a shadow over the judicial profession as a whole,” Kılıçdaroğlu said on April 25 in an address before a CHP assembly meeting.

His comments came after the YSK refused the CHP’s application for a stay of execution of the official announcement of the referendum result. The party subsequently appealed to the Council of State regarding administrative actions taken after the YSK’s initial decision to deem unsealed ballot papers valid.

Referring to Constitutional Court head Zühtü Arslan’s speech earlier on April 25, Kılıçdaroğlu said the YSK’s decision indicates “judicial activism” and casts suspicion on all the board’s rulings. 

“Arslan says that amending the rules, which are clearly and openly regulated by the constitutional legislator, with the help of [the court’s] legislative interpretation fundamentally means making a constitutional amendment with the hand of the courts,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, pointing to the related article of electoral law.

“Article 101 states that ballot papers that do not include ballot seals are not valid. With what justification are you changing that law? Who authorized you to do that?” he added.

“A judge defends the superiority of law, not the sovereign. The judge does not take refuge under the sovereign’s shelter,” he said.

“Those who have made this decision cannot be called judges. It is not appropriate that they are wearing judges’ robes. They should instead wear the robe of a political party,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, blasting YSK head Sadi Güven.

“He said he is not a politician. Well, my brother, you are now a politician. You are not worthy of wearing that robe of judges. You are the sole person responsible for the illegitimate referendum,” he added.