Western ‘concern’ over Turkey vote, as Erdogan urges respect for party win

Turkey’s Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party prepared Monday to form a single-party government after a stunning election win that strengthens the hand of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but drew sharp criticism from the White House and European election observers. The conservative Islamic-leaning AKP reclaimed the majority it lost just five months ago, confounding opinion polls that had predicted another hung parliament. Erdogan declared the outcome a vote for “stability” after renewed conflict with Kurdish rebels and a wave of bloody jihadist attacks.

The whole world must show respect. So far I haven’t seen such a maturity from the world.

Erdogan

But the United States, a key ally of Turkey, and two European election observer missions expressed concern over the campaign, particularly the crackdown on media critical of Erdogan. International election observers on Monday noted that elections were free and peaceful but criticized media restrictions in the run-up to the vote, including the seizure by the government of an opposition media company and criminal investigations of journalists for allegedly supporting terrorism or defaming Erdogan. The observers said the incidents of violence as well as physical attacks on party officials had hindered many of the contestants’ ability to campaign freely.

Unfortunately we came to the conclusion that this campaign was unfair and was characterized by too much violence and by too much fear.

Andreas Gross, who headed a delegation of parliamentarians from the Council of Europe.

Europe Turkey election