Far from fair election campaigning: 15 openings in 14 days using public money
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Election Safety Platform, a platform watching for election safety in Turkey, identified that 15 groundbreaking or opening ceremonies have been organized using money from public budgets in 14 days where propaganda was carried out for the election campaign.
Fifteen events were organized, for the purpose of groundbreaking or opening ceremonies, with spending from public budgets, in 14 days in the first month of the election period, the platform informed in its announcement made yesterday (April 19).
The platform invited the political parties to avoid organizing such activities making the expenses from public budgets, and the voters to take such unfair practices into account.
"Fair campaigns necessary for fair elections"
It is very critical for a fair election to have equal opportunities for propaganda, and that money from the state/public budgets is not used in the campaigns underlines the platform in the announcement.
However, new legislation made on April 6, 2022, in the parliament lifted the restrictions placed on the Presidency in elections.
Under the presidential system where the president is the head of the government, this has opened the way to all kinds of injustices in relation to election campaigns, the platform believes. They had made a previous announcement on March 22, in which they discussed this problem.
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# |
Date |
The ceremony |
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1 |
March 18, 2023 |
- Ceremony for Commemoration of Martyrs and 108. Anniversary of Çanakkale Sea Victory (Çanakkale) |
|
2 |
March 18 2023 |
- Seddülbahir Tower and Gelibolu – Eceabat Highway Opening Ceremony |
|
3 |
March 19 2023 |
- Bandırma Bor Karbür Üretim Tesisi Açılış Töreni (Bandırma / Balıkesir) |
|
4 |
March 23 2023 |
- 17902 Disaster and Village Houses Groundbreaking Ceremony (Maraş) |
|
5 |
March 24 2023 |
- Earthquake Houses and New State Hospitals Groundbreaking Ceremony (İskenderun) |
|
6 |
March 27 2023 |
- Adıyaman New Disaster Houses Groundbreaking Ceremony (Adıyaman) |
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7 |
March 31 2023 |
- Gaziantep – Kilis Disaster Houses Groundbreaking Ceremony (Nurdağı) |
|
8 |
April 1 2023 |
- Elazığ Disaster Houses Groundbreaking and Social Facilities Opening Ceremony |
|
9 |
April 2 2023 |
- Bağcılar Joint Opening Ceremony (Bağcılar, İstanbul) |
|
10 |
April 8 2023 |
- Başakşehir – Çam and Sakura State Hospital – Kayaşehir Metro Line Opening Ceremony (Kayaşehir) |
|
11 |
April 9 2023 |
- Pendik Joint Opening Ceremony (Pendik, İstanbul) |
|
12 |
April 10 2023 |
- TCG Anadolu Vessel Handover Ceremony and Launching of new project (Tuzla, İstanbul) |
|
13 |
April 12 2023 |
- AKM – Gar – Kızılay Metro Opening Ceremony |
|
14 |
April 13 2023 |
- Malatya Earthquake Houses Groundbreaking and 1442 Houses, 250 Village Houses and 47 Shops Handing Over Ceremony |
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15 |
April 14 2023 |
- Diyarbakır Earthquake Houses Groundbreaking and 1432 Houses and 17 shops handover ceremony |
Election Safety Platform
The Election Safety Platform constitutes of the following organizations:
Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK) / Confederation of Public Employees Unions (KESK) / Turkish Medical Association (TTB) / Union of Retired / Chamber of Electrical Engineers / Social Democracy Foundation (SODEV) / Alevi Bektashi Federation (ABF) / Rights Initiative Association / Human Rights Association (İHD) / Kızılırmak Local Associations Federation / Union of Political Science Graduates / ODTÜ Graduates Association / 2025 Europe Democracy Movement (DİEM 25 Türkiye) / Anıtpark Forum / Anticapitalist Muslims / Union for Democracy (DİB) / Platform of Associations of East and Southeast (DGD) / Platform for Rights and Justice / 2023 Elections Local Media Coordination / Socialist Dentists / Volunteers for Turkey / Civil Initiative / Citizens Association.
(EMK/PE)