ODIHR to deploy election assessment mission to parliamentary elections in Turkey

ODIHR conducted a needs assessment mission to Turkey from 30 March through 1 April in order to assess the pre-election environment and preparations for the parliamentary elections scheduled for 12 June.

The members of the mission met with officials from the Foreign and Interior Ministries, the Constitutional Court, the parliament, and the country's main election commission, as well as political parties, the media, civil society, and representatives of the diplomatic community.

In general, interlocutors expressed confidence in the integrity of the electoral process. Many underscored the professionalism of the election administration, the existence of genuine political pluralism, the vibrancy of civil society, the maturity of the electoral system, and the existence of well-functioning institutions. Nevertheless, they suggested that the electoral process could benefit from an assessment by international observers and expressed interest in a targeted, issue-based review of the electoral framework and practices.

As a result, the mission recommended the deployment of an election assessment mission to look into certain issues, including the pre-election campaign, voter registration, campaign finance, the work of the media, and women’s participation and representation, as well as the impact of recent and pending legal amendments on the conduct of the electoral process.