Ignacio Sanchez Amor (MP, Spain), the Special Co-ordinator of the short-term OSCE observer mission to the early parliamentary and presidential elections taking place in Turkey later this month, today wrapped up a visit to Istanbul where he has met with representatives of political parties, NGOs, analysts, and journalists.
The two-day visit also included a meeting with HDP’s presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtaş in Edirne’s high security prison and a visit to Edirnekapi Cemetery, where Sanchez Amor paid respects to those who lost lives during the attempted coup of July 2016.
“Over the past two days, I have met many dedicated men and women who share a desire for a democratic and prosperous Turkey. Candidates, journalists, election officials, activists and Turkish citizens from all walks of life all want to see Turkey succeed, and it is with them in mind that we will conduct a professional and fair-minded election observation mission of these early presidential and parliamentary elections,” Sanchez Amor stated.
He noted that the issue of security and media were of concern among several of his interlocutors, and issues to which election observers should pay close attention.
Meetings were held with representatives of the Justice and Development Party, Republican People’s Party, Nationalist Movement Party, People’s Democratic Party, Good Party and the Patriotic Party. Topics of discussion included the state of emergency that has been in force in Turkey since 2016.
Sanchez Amor also discussed with his interlocutors the general election environment including any challenges that exist to campaigning, campaign activities both inside and outside of Turkey, and the climate for journalists and election observers. He urged all stakeholders to refrain from any forms of violence or intimidation ahead of the elections.
As Special Co-ordinator, Sanchez Amor leads the OSCE’s short-term observation mission to the elections. He will deliver the international observers’ preliminary post-election statement on 25 June in Ankara. Peter Osusky (MP, Slovakia) will serve as the Head of Mission for the 60 OSCE PA observers.
The OSCE parliamentarians will participate in comprehensive briefings before deploying to polling stations in several regions for election day. They will work closely with observers from the OSCE/ODIHR and in co-ordination with colleagues from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
The mission will assess the elections against democratic commitments contained in the OSCE’s 1990 Copenhagen Document.