Attempts to prevent voting in Kurdish cities

At the request of the government, the polling stations are being consolidated in 19 provinces in Turkey. HDP co-chair Sezai Temelli speaks of an "offensive" to prevent voting in the Kurdish areas.

The Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) in Turkey has approved the government's request to consolidate the polling stations in 19 provinces. Sezai Temelli, co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), described the move as an attempt to prevent voting in electoral constituencies with a high vote share of his party:

"The YSK should have awaited the decision of the Constitutional Court. The applications of the 19 governorates are pointless and difficult to implement. How the merge should work is still unclear. It is an offensive to prevent people in the Kurdish region from voting. The situation has been explained to the YSK chairman. In conversation, the YSK itself expressed its discomfort over this situation. The fact that the application was granted nevertheless shows the pressure on the YSK, "said HDP Chairman Temelli.