Parties agree to increase election security measures
by Merve Aydoğan
ANKARASep 07, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Merve Aydoğan
Sep 07, 2015 12:00 am
With less than two months until the Nov. 1 parliamentary elections, discussions of election security are topping the political agenda. In this regard, establishing enhanced security measures for the Nov. 1 elections was the main focus of the recently held National Security Council (MGK) meeting. Due to increased terror activities by the outlawed PKK throughout the eastern provinces, concerns over elections being delayed are also on the rise. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu on Friday assured that Ankara will continue its devoted efforts to fight terror and underlined that there should be no doubt that elections will be held when the time comes.
During the process leading to the June 7 elections, the PKK reportedly sent letters to locals in eastern provinces threatening them not to vote for the Justice and Development Party (AK Party). Davutoğlu, in this perspective, said the major issue that affects election security is the PKK terrorist organization threatening and forcing locals to vote for a certain party. "We are determined to hold the elections through establishing election security. The major issue that affects election security is the terrorist organizations forcing and threatening locals living in villages to vote for a certain party. But these elections will be held under any circumstances," he said.
Commenting on a question related to election security and whether delaying the elections is an option, Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said speaking of delaying the elections is not even an option and described it as disrespect to democracy. Kılıçdaroğlu also urged everyone to protect the ballots, as the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) applied to the Supreme Election Board (YSK) and submitted a petition urging not to have security officers around election districts.
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