Turkey election was unfair, say observers
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged the world to respect the result of the election. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
European observers say they have serious concerns over the fairness of Sunday’s election in Turkey.
The Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE) criticised curbs on media freedom and said an increase in violence had “restricted some contestants’ ability to campaign freely”.
The head of its observer mission, Ignacio Sanchez Amor, said: “Physical attacks on party members, as well as the significant security concerns, particularly in the south-east” had affected campaigning.
Pressure on journalists was also a major concern, he said.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) also expressed concern about the polls.
“Unfortunately, the campaign for these elections was characterized by unfairness and, to a serious degree, fear,” said the head of its delegation, Andreas Gross.
White House spokesman John Earnest said the US had urged Turkey “to uphold universal democratic values”.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged the world to respect the result of the election, in which his Justice and Development Party (AKP) retained its majority.