HDP appeals to top election board for cancelation of Nov. 1 election

Fuente: 
Todays Zaman
Fecha de publicación: 
17 Nov 2015

The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) appealed to the Supreme Election Board (YSK) on Monday to ask for the cancelation of the results of the Nov. 1 general election.

The HDP received fewer votes in the Nov. 1 snap election than in the previous general election held on June 7. Although the party obtained 13 percent of the vote on June 7, its support dropped to 10 percent on Nov. 1, following the renewed conflict between Turkish security forces and the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

After the announcement of the unofficial results, the HDP's co-chairs said that unfair election conditions and a deliberate policy of polarization by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan explained the drop in support.

The HDP canceled election rallies following two deadly attacks on pro-Kurdish gatherings in July. HDP Co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş told reporters on Nov. 1 that "there wasn't a fair or equal election... We were not able to lead an election campaign. We tried to protect our people against attacks."

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) won 49 percent of the vote, while the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) secured 25 percent. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) lost 25 percent of its vote compared to the June 7 election, winning just 12 percent. The HDP won 10 percent, just above the 10-percent threshold to enter Parliament and will now be represented by 59 deputies.

Fuente: http://www.todayszaman.com/national_hdp-appeals-to-top-election-board-fo...