CHP accuses the Interior Ministry of organizing a parallel structure to the Supreme Election Council

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Republican People's Party (CHP) Vice-President and Çanakkale MP Muharrem Erkek claimed today (May 2) in a press briefing that he held that the Interior Ministry was organizing a parallel structure to the Supreme Election Council (YSK) which is the highest authority in Turkey during elections. 

Erkek underlined that there was no such thing among the tasks of the Ministry of Interior and that the Ministry was not authorized to collect the ballot reports.

The Vice-President of the party responsible for legal and election works, Çanakkale MP Erkek held a press briefing at the CHP Headquarters in Ankara. 

Stating that they have identified that a structure was being organized within the Ministry of Interior parallel to the election councils, Erkek said, "The Interior Ministry is requesting that an election monitoring module should be set up in a letter sent to all governorships. We are facing such a situation that we see something like this for the first time in any election held. The Interior Ministry has set up an election monitoring system parallel to the Supreme Election Council (YSK). The Ministry is requesting that an election monitoring module should be set up in a letter sent to all governorships. Three personnel will be assigned in all districts with a population up to 20 thousand, 5 personnel in those with a population between 20-100 thousand, and 10 in those with a population over 100 thousand," announced Erkek. 

The Supreme Election Council (YSK) is the highest electoral authority in Turkey. It was established by the Deputies Election Law no. 5545 on 16 February 1950. 

It is the judicial authority, carrying out the administration, monitoring, and also the judicial review of the elections in Turkey.

Before 2017, the Justice, Interior and Transportation Ministers used to resign in Turkey, when the country was heading toward elections. This constitutional regulation was changed with the amendments made in the Constitution with the referandum in 2017. (Mİ/PE)