CHP seeks Socialist International support to follow voting process in Europe

SERKAN DEMİRTAŞ ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

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The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has sought support from the Socialist International (SI) and the Progressive Alliance to encourage Turkish citizens living in Europe to cast their votes in the upcoming presidential election on Aug. 10.

The CHP asked both the SI and the Progressive Alliance – two influential umbrella entities for progressive, social democratic, socialist and labor parties – to follow and observe the voting process in their respective countries. It said the future of democracy in Turkey will be determined by the upcoming election.

“Electing the right person as Turkish president is important not only for the future of democracy in Turkey, but also for the promotion of fundamental freedoms and social justice in our region and beyond,” CHP Deputy Head Faruk Loğoğlu said in his letter to the two organizations.

“This is why the CHP believes that Prof. [Ekmeleddin] İhsanoğlu is the right choice. We ask for your solidarity on this historic occasion … This is why we call on our socialist and social democratic comrades to follow and observe the voting process by citizens of Turkey in their countries, and urge their Turkish comrades to cast their votes,” Loğoğlu added.

The three contenders for the elections are the CHP and the National Movement Party’s (MHP) joint candidate, İhsanoğlu, who will run against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the People’s Democracy Party (HDP) co-leader Selahattin Demirtaş.

With around 2.8 million Turkish citizens eligible to vote living abroad, all main political parties have been trying to remind Turks about the importance of the upcoming elections for Turkish democracy. 

“After comprehensive consultations with civil society and political parties, the CHP decided to back the candidacy of Prof. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu for the post of the president of the Turkish Republic [because] he stands for democracy, the rule of law, fundamental freedoms, human rights, secularism, gender equality, solidarity and social justice in Turkey,” Loğoğlu said in his letter.

Similarly, recent visits to Germany, France and Austria by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan highlight the intensive work also undertaken by the ruling Justice and Development (AKP) to mobilize Turkish votes abroad.