19/06/2018 Election observation
Following an invitation from the authorities, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will send a 33-member delegation to Turkey to observe the conduct of the early presidential and parliamentary elections, alongside observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
The delegation, led by Olena Sotnyk (Ukraine, ALDE), will travel to the country from 22 to 25 June and will meet presidential candidates (or their representatives) and leaders and representatives of the political parties competing in the early parliamentary elections
The delegation will also meet the Chairman and members of the Supreme Board of Elections (SBE), the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTSC), as well as representatives of the media and civil society, before observing the voting on 24 June.
A member of the Venice Commission – the Council of Europe's group of independent legal experts – will provide legal support during the visit.
“The high stakes of these elections make it even more important for the Turkish authorities to do their utmost to ensure that they are free, fair, transparent and in line with international standards and that the electorate is able to make an informed choice and to have confidence in the electoral system throughout the country,” the PACE pre-electoral delegation stressed in a declaration dated 31 May.
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A joint press conference is scheduled on Monday 25 June at 3.00 pm, at the Sheraton Hotel & LugalLuxury Collection Centre (Tulipia 2), Şehit Ömer HalukSipahioğlu Sok., Kavaklidere, Cankaya, Turkey.
Contact: Nathalie Bargellini, PACE Communication Division
mobile: +33 6 65 40 32 82 / local mobile (from 21 June): +90 544 568 12 38
e-mail: [email protected]