OSCE welcomes high turnout, peaceful elections in Türkiye

Special Coordinator and short-term leader of the OSCE Observation Mission, Michael Georg Link (C), Head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Frank Schwabe (2ndL), Head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Delegation, Farah Karimi (2ndR), and Ambassador Jan Petersen (R), head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission, hold a news conference after observing the elections in Türkiye, in Ankara on May 15, 2023. (AFP Photo)

by Daily Sabah with Agencies

May 15, 2023 10:45 pm

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Election Observation Mission welcomed peaceful elections in Türkiye.

Jan Petersen, the head of the OSCE Election Observation Mission, who has been in Türkiye for six weeks, congratulated Turkish people for their democratic spirit and high turnout.

He also said that election day occurred in a calm and peaceful atmosphere. The voting process was very well organized and was positive in general, he said.

"Turkish democracy is proving to be amazingly resilient. This election had a high turnout and offered a real choice," said Frank Schawabe, head of the PACE delegation.

The delegation called on authorities to take concrete steps to guarantee a higher turnout in cities affected by two massive earthquakes that hit southeast Türkiye in February.

The OSCE mission said it would pay close attention to the May 28 presidential runoff.