CHP: There is no Boycott, We will Never Give up

* Photograph: Metin Aktaş/ Ankara/ AA

Click to read the article in Turkish

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has announced its decision regarding the cancellation of İstanbul Metropolitan Mayorship elections in İstanbul. In a statement made by the party, it has been stated that "there is no boycott, the party will run in repeat elections."

Posting a message on his Twitter account after the party assembly meeting, Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was elected the Metropolitan Mayor of İstanbul according to unofficial local election results, has said,

"Our way is long, our enthusiasm is high, we have the youth. We are the Turkish youth with a thirst for justice and absolute belief in democracy. And we will never give up! #HerŞeyÇokGüzelOlacak (Everything will be Fine).

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'Instigators of May 6 coup are blatantly obvious'

After the extraordinary party assembly meeting of the CHP, a written statement for the press has been released.

Some highlights from the statement are as follows:

"May 6, 2019 has gone down in our history of democracy as a dark day. This day will never be forgotten.

"Enemies of democracy, who trampled upon the open preference and instruction of the people, has taken another step in the process of civilian coup and committed a murder of law in knowing, willing, planned manner.

"Instigators, extrajudicial killers and clappers of May 6 coup are blatantly obvious. From now on, their names will be remembered with curses.

'Rights underpinning democracy openly abolished'

"With this ruling, the rule of law, separation of powers, right to vote and be elected, namely the rights and principles underpinning the democracy, have been openly abolished.

"If there is an irregularity in balloting committees, then the April 16 Constitutional Referendum, June 24 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections as well as the March 31 district municipality and municipal council elections, which took place at the exact same ballot boxes and with the same envelopes, should also be repeated according to the same criteria.

"If there is a mistake in election councils, the sole responsible party is the YSK. The fault of the Council cannot be put on voters' shoulders, voters cannot be punished. The members of the YSK must resign together due to the crime that they committed against the voters.

"The necessary legal regulations must definitely be introduced to ensure the impartiality of Justice and Interior Ministers in electoral periods."

Concluding the statement, the party has referred to the repeat elections to be held on June 23, 2019, and indicated, "We believe wholeheartedly that we will win a greater victory than March 31." (PT/SD)