Main opposition CHP’s election truck towed away in Erzurum

ERZURUM

DHA Photo

An election campaign truck of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has been prevented from entering a city square in the eastern province of Erzurum, Doğan News Agency reported on May 29.

The incident took place after security forces in Erzurum had earlier towed away the party’s truck from the central square of the city of Yakutiye, citing “damage to a historical place” as justification. 

CHP Deputy Head Enis Berberoğlu, Aykut Erdoğdu and CHP Secretary General Gürsel Tekin then arrived in the province in order to support local deputy candidates Gonca Aytaş and Orhan Bozkurt. The CHP delegation visited the local mayor who proposed that they set up a small election stand in the city square.

Tekin therefore drove the truck back to the square but the police directed it to a highway exit, despite the fact that the district election board issued a ruling to allow the CHP election stand at the site. The board had even ruled to allow the CHP to use the square with the protection of police officers. 

However, the police did not allow the CHP truck to enter the city center, so the party’s members were forced to opened their stand on a nearby road.

Police officers reportedly said the truck could enter the city only between 23.00 and 06.00.