REPUBLIC OF TÜRKİYE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

Regarding the electoral alliance and the amendment in the Election Law, Minister Gül said "This regulation is open to every political party and everyone who needs it. There is no obligation to form alliance through the elections."

A NEW REGULATION WAS ISSUED TO REMOVE THE BAN

Reiterating the previously formed alliances in Turkey, Minister of Justice Gül stated "Political parties used to go to elections under the structure and symbol of another party, however there wasn't any legal regulation allowing to form an alliance. The new regulation is issued to remove that ban. The second regulation is related to elections in local administration and the related law. It paves the way for the individuals to be mayors, members of municipal councils and village chiefs from the age of 18. That is to say, the age for candidacy has become younger. The third regulation is related to some measures to be taken around the ballot boxes to organize democratic, secure elections with high participation. We introduced certain regulations to make elections more democratic. To sum up, the law containing the regulation at three main topics was approved by the Assembly."

Minister Gül noted that presidential governmental system in its basis involves alliances, consensus and embracing one another. He added that above all a consensus should be made at the party grassroots and different circles as well as in the parties themselves in order to gain %50 plus 1 vote at the presidential election.

Minister Gül emphasized that the alliance will be written in an official announcement within seven days from the beginning of the electoral calendar and added "This is a regulation in which the protocol can be refused until three days before the issue of final candidate lists. How will it go? Party leaders will gather, they will sign the document and evaluate it in the competent boards. Afterwards, they will announce to the public with whom they will make alliance."

BETTER THAN THE CURRENT SITUATION

When it comes to the criticism about the electoral threshold, Gül indicated "This regulation allows the small parties or the ones which cannot represent themselves in the Assembly to form alliances. A party can cooperate with another party similar to itself and can enter the Assembly and be represented instead of being left out."

Gül underlined that the regulation is "better than the current situation" and the prepared regulation in its final form is nearly perfect. Gül noted that they examined other alliances in the world and explained "In Turkey, the majority of individuals want to enter the elections 'with their own symbols'. What we did is to make sure that this general opinion turned into practice."

ELECTORAL SAFETY

Minister of Justice Gül was reminded of CHP's decision to apply to the Constitutional Court concerning the electoral safety and responded "They have the right to apply to the Constitutional Court, they can do that. However, the amendments have been added to the laws, with regard to the right to vote and stand for election, holding democratic, free elections with high participation and according to the principle of honesty."

Describing the details of the arrangements made, Gül reminded that there are some threats like " if this village, district votes to others, we will come here on Monday. We will call you to account.", and that, therefore those who live in the same buildings have problems while casting their votes. Stating that the votes should be casted in a secret manner, Gül pointed out that, if needed, they brought the opportunity to citizens to cast votes in the next classroom of the school or in another school to be determined by the Supreme Electoral Board (SEB) near their houses.

Stating that another objection to this issue is that governors will deal with the electoral security, Minister of Justice Gül said that oppositions in this respect are "groundless " and that governors cannot decide to move the ballot boxes in no way. He added that this can only be possible at the discretion of the SEB if the governor asks for and states the situation.

Reminding that there are objections regarding public officials to be the president of the polling committee in the elections, Gül said that they are malevolent and continued "I already interpret it as the futile efforts of those who already understand the election defeat and that they will not be able to get out of the polls. On the contrary, these implementations which increase the trust in the election and the ballot boxes should be supported."