Statement on Election by EU Rapporteur to Turkey Piri

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First statement from Europe with respect to June 24 election results has been made by EP Rapporteur to Turkey Kati Piri. Stressing since last night that the elections weren’t held in fair conditions, Piri’s first tweet in the morning was:

“My thoughts are this morning with Osman Kavala, Taner Kilic, and thousands of others unjustly imprisoned in Turkey. Will anything change for them?”

My thoughts are this morning with Osman Kavala, @hdpdemirtas, Taner Kilic, and thousands of others unjustly imprisoned in #Turkey. Will anything change for them?

— Kati Piri (@KatiPiri) 25 Haziran 2018

In the statement she made on Twitter, Piri said “Although under a state of emergency, biased media coverage and unfair level-playing field, Pres. Erdogan managed to win the early presidential elections” and continued:

“The (preliminary) result shows political opposition in Turkey is resilient. This means there is still a strong base for democratic change in Turkey. The EU must take into account that Pres. Erdogan is not the only counterpart.

“Let’s see if Pres. Erdogan keeps his electoral promises to lift the state of emergency and return to the rule of law. Ten thousands of people in jail are awaiting a fair trial”.

“HDP managed to pass electoral threshold in spite of everything”

“Despite the unscheduled early elections, the opposition managed to organize itself and held rallies attended by millions of people. Parliament will be more representative, but AKP-MHP maintain majority”.

“Quite an achievement that with its Presidential candidate and 10 MPs in jail, 4000 activists arrested, some hundred of its mayors removed, moving of ballot boxes in SouthEast, HDP managed to pass the 10% electoral threshold”.

“An incompatible system with the EU”

“The last obstacle for the introduction of a highly undemocratic presidential system has now been removed. A system which is absolutely incompatible with EU accession talks”. (PT/TK)