The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is to send 60 parliamentarians to monitor the 7 June elections in Turkey and North Kurdistan.

PACE President Anne Brasseur said the 10% electoral threshold was unfair, adding that the Kurdish question is the most important issue facing Turkey.

The PACE delegation will visit Turkey between 4 and 7 May to examine whether the pre-election process conforms with internationally recognised norms.

Impressions to be submitted to international bodies

The delegation, including Socialist Group Chair Andreas Gros and PACE Turkey rapporteur Josette Durrieu will submit their impressions to the Council of Europe and other international institutions.

PACE president: The threshold is unfair

PACE president Anne Brasseur told ANF that on her visit to Ankara 2 weeks ago she had criticised the ten per cent threshold, saying it was unacceptably high. Brasseur emphasised that in meetings with the President and the Prime Minister in Ankara she had said the Kurdish issue is the one of the most important questions awaiting resolution.