Statement on by-elections from Deputy Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Bekir Bozdağ

Deputy Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Bekir Bozdağ made a statement regarding the characterization of the 2002-2003 Siirt elections, in which AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was first elected as a deputy, as a 'by-election' by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel and Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir.

"OUR PRESIDENT WAS NOT ELECTED AS A SIIRT DEPUTY IN A BY-ELECTION, BUT AS A RESULT OF THE REPETITION OF THE ELECTION"

Bozdağ stated that President Erdoğan was elected as a Siirt deputy in the election that was renewed pursuant to the decision of the Supreme Election Council (YSK), noting: "Our President and Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was not elected as a Siirt deputy in a by-election, but as a result of the parliamentary election being held again, being repeated.

Because; upon the objection of the AK Party, the Supreme Election Council (on December 2, 2002, Decision No: 978) decided unanimously to cancel the election held in the province of Siirt during the Parliamentary General Election held on November 3, 2002; to cancel the deputy certificates belonging to the deputies resulting from the Parliamentary General Election held in the province of Siirt on November 3, 2002; and to hold the parliamentary election again in the Siirt electoral district.

Our President and Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was elected as a Siirt deputy in this renewed, repeated election pursuant to this decision of the Supreme Election Council," he said.

"CALLING A PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION A 'BY-ELECTION' DOES NOT REFUTE THE TRUTH"

Stating that the Supreme Election Council makes the decision to cancel and renew a parliamentary election in a province or electoral district, Bozdağ remarked: "Moreover, the renewal or repetition of a parliamentary election in a province or electoral district as a result of a Supreme Election Council decision is not the same thing as a by-election; they are completely different from each other.

Furthermore, the Supreme Election Council decides on the cancellation and renewal or repetition of a parliamentary election in a province or electoral district, whereas the General Assembly of the Parliament decides on a by-election (Constitution, Article 78). Despite this clear and indisputable constitutional reality and the Supreme Election Council decision, calling the parliamentary election that was renewed and repeated in Siirt a 'by-election' does not refute the truth; it only refutes those making the claim."

News Source: İHA