Speaking at an opening ceremony in Kızılcahamam district of Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the following regarding the local elections envisaged for March: “If those people involved in terror happen to win at the ballot boxes, we would do what is necessary and appoint trustees.”

Erdoğan’s remarks have already cast a shadow on the legitimacy of the local elections which will come after the general elections held under State of Emergency (OHAL) conditions. Parties are now preparing for elections in an environment where a fair contest, rule of law, freedom of expression and press have been totally eliminated. During the past two years alone, the AKP regime has removed 93 co-mayors from office and usurped DBP-held municipalities across the Kurdish region.