CHP Chair Criticizes YSK Verdict on Statutory Decrees: 'Give Mandate to Election Winners'

*Photo: Doğukan Keskinkılıç - Ankara/AA

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The Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has criticized the Supreme Election Council's (YSK) decision to not give a certificate of election to the candidates who were previously discharged from public service upon a statutory decree.

The YSK, the highest election authority and a part of the judiciary power, made the verdict on April 11. One day later, it ruled that elected municipal council members shall also not be given a mandate for the same reason.

Upon the verdict of the YSK, second-placed candidates in mayoral races have been mandated instead of those who were barred from assuming office. For the municipal councils, mandates have been given to the next candidate in the party's list.

"You allowed them to participate in the election"

Kılıçdaroğlu today (April 18) evaluated the results of the March 31 local elections and his party's candidate for İstanbul finally getting mandate 17 days after the polls.

"I address the YSK, you permitted them to participate in the elections. They got documents from the prosecutors. They were accepted by the district (election councils), the province (election councils) and the YSK. Some of them won the election.

"You need to give the certificates of election to those who won the election. Otherwise, we would cause a shame of democracy as a society.

"Saying, 'I don't give you the mandate' to a person you allowed to participate in the elections wins is against the democracy and the principle of the rule of the law. If these mandates are given, Türkiye will get rid of the shame of democracy."

What happened?

After the appeals against the election results in some districts, the YSK ruled that the elected mayors who were previously discharged by statutory decrees during the State of Emergency period between 2016 and 2018 shall not be given certificates of election.

The YSK has made this decision based on the following provision in a Statutory Decree: "The ones removed from office in this way cannot be employed in public service and cannot take office in public institutions."

In six districts and towns won by the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), there were candidates who were discharged by Statutory Decrees.

In all of these places, the candidates nominated by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have come second.

AKP candidates did not won but mandated in six districts. (Graphic:HDP)

While the YSK has given this decision by common consent, the decision of "granting the certificate of election to the candidates who have come second" has been taken by a majority vote.

(AS/VK)