Bipartisan Policy Center Recommends Turkish Government Invite International Election Monitors to Observe Upcoming Presidential Election

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Bipartisan Policy Center's (BPC) Turkey Initiative released a new paper today assessing election fraud in Turkey's local elections earlier this year. The initiative, co-chaired by former U.S. Ambassadors to Turkey Mort Abramowitz and Eric Edelman, has written extensively on the importance of restoring a more cooperative U.S.-Turkish relationship and the obstacles to doing so.

Its latest paper finds that, while the overall victor—Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan—is not in doubt, the elections were the most controversial in recent history. There were an unprecedented number of accusations of irregularities in both the vote casting and counting processes, and irregularities that were not thoroughly investigated by electoral authorities.

For the first time, Turkey will directly elect its president in August. For that election to be free from the doubts that plagued the just-concluded local contests, the paper strongly recommends that the Turkish government allow international monitors to observe the voting.

"The upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections should be free from the doubts that plague the just-concluded local contests," said Blaise Misztal, director of BPC's Foreign Policy Project. "This will ensure Turkey's stability, the strength of its democracy, its standing in the region, and its continued good relations with the United States."

Key issues raised in the paper:

• Claims of Irregularities during the Voting Process: Polling station volunteers complained that the election officials on duty in the polling stations were unaware of the election rules and legally required procedures. There were numerous reports of voters being poorly informed about how to stamp the ballot papers and put them in envelopes. In urban areas, most of the reports of politically-motivated irregularities involved claims of political party officials—mostly members of the AKP—attempting to intimidate voters and election officials.
• Claims of Irregularities during the Counting Process: During the counting process, there were 44 reports of power loss in polling stations in 21 provinces across the country. In several districts, opposition parties had growing leads before the outages, only for them to be first caught and then overtaken by the AKP when counting resumed.Claims of Irregularities during the Counting Process: During the counting process, there were 44 reports of power loss in polling stations in 21 provinces across the country. In several districts, opposition parties had growing leads before the outages, only for them to be first caught and then overtaken by the AKP when counting resumed.
  • Ankara Mayoral Race: At 254 polling stations in Ankara, the turnout was registered as more than 100 percent—a statistical impossibility. The AKP won the majority of these overrepresented precincts. An examination of the official tallies of the votes in the ballot boxes from the polling stations in Ankara showed that more than one-fifth lacked the required stamps and signatures confirming that they are an accurate record of the count.Ankara Mayoral Race: At 254 polling stations in Ankara, the turnout was registered as more than 100 percent—a statistical impossibility. The AKP won the majority of these overrepresented precincts. An examination of the official tallies of the votes in the ballot boxes from the polling stations in Ankara showed that more than one-fifth lacked the required stamps and signatures confirming that they are an accurate record of the count.
  • After years of a declining proportion of invalid votes, this election saw an abnormally high number of invalid votes. In known AKP strongholds, the proportion of invalid votes was relatively low. But the rate rose steeply in districts that were expected to be tightly contested but that the AKP eventually won by a narrow margin.After years of a declining proportion of invalid votes, this election saw an abnormally high number of invalid votes. In known AKP strongholds, the proportion of invalid votes was relatively low. But the rate rose steeply in districts that were expected to be tightly contested but that the AKP eventually won by a narrow margin.
  • There were more than 1,400 allegations of irregularities in the local elections, the overwhelmingly majority of them made by opposition parties against results in which AKP candidates were victorious. But the vast majority were dismissed. The Supreme Electoral Board ordered only two reruns in provincial capitals, both of them in response to appeals by the AKP against narrow losses to opposition parties.There were more than 1,400 allegations of irregularities in the local elections, the overwhelmingly majority of them made by opposition parties against results in which AKP candidates were victorious. But the vast majority were dismissed. The Supreme Electoral Board ordered only two reruns in provincial capitals, both of them in response to appeals by the AKP against narrow losses to opposition parties.
• Recommendation: With historic elections—the first direct, popular voting for president—set to take place in August 2014 against a backdrop of tension and political uncertainty, we recommend that the Turkish government invite international observers to assess the fairness and security of the vote.Recommendation: With historic elections—the first direct, popular voting for president—set to take place in August 2014 against a backdrop of tension and political uncertainty, we recommend that the Turkish government invite international observers to assess the fairness and security of the vote.

The paper also includes electoral maps of Turkey from 2009 and 2014 showing the election results by province. View the map here.

[Read the press release online]

About the Bipartisan Policy Center
Founded in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole and George Mitchell, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a non-profit organization that drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation and respectful dialogue. With projects in multiple issue areas, BPC combines politically balanced policymaking with strong, proactive advocacy and outreach. For more information, please visit www.bipartisanpolicy.org

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SOURCE Bipartisan Policy Center