AKP member Türkyılmaz's 'unstamped ballot joke' sparks tension in IMM Assembly: I will never accept it
Elections for Deputy Speaker, parliamentary commission members, council clerks, and the executive committee were held at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Assembly. The first of the April sessions of the IMM Assembly, held at the Saraçhane campus, was presided over by IMM Deputy Speaker Nuri Aslan.
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The CHP nominated Gökhan Gümüşdağ for 1st Deputy Speaker and Gencay Özcan for 2nd Deputy Speaker.
The AKP nominated Ahmet Bilal Kıymaz for 1st Deputy Speaker and İlyas Çevik for 2nd Deputy Speaker.
CHP's Gümüşdağ was elected 1st Deputy Speaker with 143 votes, while AKP's Kıymaz received 94 votes. Özcan was elected 2nd Deputy Speaker with 142 votes, while the AKP candidate Çevik received 91 votes.
'Unstamped ballot' debate
An 'unstamped ballot' debate occurred during the election of council clerks in the IMM Assembly. The controversy began when Murat Türkyılmaz, the group spokesperson speaking on behalf of the AKP, claimed that 'unstamped ballots were used.' Although Türkyılmaz began his remarks by saying, 'I am joking, Mr. Speaker,' his statements regarding the use of unstamped ballots were treated with seriousness by Nuri Aslan, who was presiding over the session as the Assembly Speaker.
'I will never accept illegality'
Aslan intervened, saying, 'There is no joking, in which election?' and took direct control of the process as the debate escalated. Following the objection, Nuri Aslan announced that he was canceling the election, citing the allegation of unstamped ballots. Aslan stated: 'This is a democratic table. If there is such a warning, I will never accept unstamped ballots. I am restarting the election. There cannot be anything illegal or unlawful where I am! It is impossible for me to accept a vote cast with an unstamped, unofficial ballot. This is a democratic country.'
'Election restarted'
Following the debate, the election for council clerks was canceled and the process was restarted. Pointing to the possibility of a technical error, Aslan made the following assessment: “Our bureaucratic colleagues may have made a technical error. It is better to correct a mistake as soon as possible. This country is a country of democracy. Everything must be in accordance with the law and democracy.”
Subsequently, the vote was held again, and the repetition of the council clerk election was accepted by majority vote.
“It may have happened in the past, I do not accept it”
Referring to past debates over unstamped ballots in his speech, Aslan said, “This state may have counted unstamped ballots as valid in the past! I do not count them! I cannot allow voting with unstamped ballots. No one should take offense! This country is a democratic, secular Republic.”
“This will not happen while I am here”
Aslan continued his remarks as follows: “I will not allow voting with unstamped ballots in this assembly. Here, no one can get away with it! I am here!” He also added for members who did not wish to participate in the vote, “Those who are uncomfortable or do not wish to vote can rest in the cafeteria.”