The veto on the independent candidates of the Peace, Freedom and Democracy Block was condemned by Council of Europe's election observation committee. Andrej Hunko, member of the observation committee which will watch the elections on June 12, commented YSK (Supreme Election Board)’s decision as “a black day for Turkey’s democracy”.

Andrej Hunko, German MP of the Left Party for Aachen and the EU Commission member of the Federal Assembly of Germany, called attention that Leyla Zana, whose candidateship is disaffirmed, is the winner of Aachen Peace Award. Noting that the Turkish-Kurdish conflict has increased in the period when the democratic representation of Kurds came to the agenda, the German parliamentarian said, “YSK’s decision will generate strong reactions in the international public opinion”.

Included in the committee that will watch the June 12 elections in Diyarbakýr on behalf of the Council of Europe, Left Party member Andrej Hunko said the followings; “I demand the YSK to amend the decision promptly. In the same way the Turkish government should also take action to make the necessary arrangements. Otherwise, the elections will not be democratic”.

Translation: Berna Ozgencil