Controversial Leaders Banned From Elections
The decision against Erdogan and Erbakan were made by a majority of votes. Also barred from running were Murat Bozlak, the leader of the pro-Kurdish People's Democracy Party (HADEP), and Akin Birdal, head of the former Socialist Democracy Party (SDP) and the most prominent Turkish human rights activist. The board voted unanimously against Bozlak and Birdal.
"We were expecting this decision," said Birdal, who was running as lawmaker from the Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) from Mersin. "This decision also demonstrated how the European Union reforms would be implemented." YSK's statement
A press statement from the YSK said:
"After a meeting on September 20, 2002, the High Electoral Board has decided that Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Necmettin Erbakan, Murat Bozlak and Akin Birdal are not eligible to be elected as lawmakers.
The board rejected Recep Tayyip Erdogan's and Necmettin Erbakan's application to run for parliament by a majority of votes. The board voted unanimously against Murat Bozlak and Akin Birdal."
Yuzbasioglu: This decision is normal
"This decision is normal," said Prof. Dr. Necmi Yuzbasioglu from the Galatasaray University. "You couldn't have expected a contrary decision from the YSK."
"Some parts of article 312 have changed, but the 11th article has not changed. You couldn't have expected the YSK to make any comments," said Yuzbasioglu. "People expect and demand that the constitution is liberal. But in democratic countries, you cannot debate over rulings."
EU: The decision would cast a cloud over elections
The European Union had indicated that the YSK's decision would determine its attitude.
According to a report by the private NTV television, the EU thinks that this decision casts a cloud over the elections, and demonstrates the discrepancies between article 10 of the EU, which assures freedom of expression, and the Turkish legal system.
Cicek: Nothing has changed for us
Cemil Cicek, running as an AKP lawmaker from Ankara said, "Tayyip Erdogan is the head of our party. Nothing has changed for us."
"This decision will not change the result of the elections," said Cicek. "But it has brought on the agenda once again, the question of how Turkey will join the EU."
Altan: A legal blow in the February 28 period
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Altan named the decision as a "legal blow in the February 28 period."
"The sovereigns of Ankara are trying to block some politicians and political views," said Altan. "They are trying to be social tailors."
According to newspaper reports, the YSK has rejected the application of about 50 people to run for parliament.
According to a list Bianet got from the daily Evrensel, these are the "banned candidates" from DEHAP:
Bahattin Gunel, Manisa Ankara 1st Region 1st rank; Ali Riza Yurtsever, Manisa, 1st rank; Abdullah Varli, Izmir 2nd region 1st rank; Mustafa Yalciner, Malatya, 1st rank; Filiz Uguz, Van, 1st rank; Celalalettin Yoyler, Samsun 1st rank; Kasim Caliskan, Aydin, 2nd rank; Ayla Yildirim, Bursa 1st rank; Hamza Karaagac, Adana 2nd region 3rd rank; Bayram Bozkurt, Maras 6th rank; Veysel Turhan, Siirt 3rd rank; Mehmet Demir, Icel 10th rank; Ismail Hakki Karaderin, Tekirdag 3rd rank; A. Menaf Savas, Tekirdag 3rd rank; Hasan Dogan, Malatya, 3rd rank.
Moreover, Abdulmelik Firat running for parliament as an independent lawmaker from the southeastern province of Diyarbakir will not be able to run in the November 3 elections following a YSK decision. (NK/BB/EA/NM)