By NewsBlogger The Supreme Election Board in Turkey reinstated pro-Kurdish mayoral election winner Abdullah Zeydan in Van after his victory was initially annulled, sparking protests and highlighting political tensions surrounding Kurdish representation and government interference in local elections.
At a glance
- Abdullah Zeydan, the pro-Kurdish mayoral election winner in Van, Turkey, was reinstated by the Supreme Election Board (YSK) after his victory was initially annulled.
- Zeydan had secured over 55 percent of the vote but was deemed ineligible by the regional electoral commission due to a previous conviction.
- The decision to annul Zeydan’s victory led to violent protests in Van, resulting in the detention of 89 people.
- The reversal of Zeydan’s removal is seen as a significant win for the Turkish opposition following local elections that weakened President Erdogan’s ruling party.
- The YSK’s decision to reinstate Zeydan came after an appeal by the pro-Kurdish Democratic Regions Party, sparking celebrations in the southeast region of Turkey for Kurdish representation in local government.
The details
Turkey’s Supreme Election Board (YSK) recently reinstated pro-Kurdish mayoral election winner Abdullah Zeydan in the eastern city of Van after his victory was initially annulled.
Zeydan had secured over 55 percent of the vote in the municipal elections, but the regional electoral commission claimed he was ineligible due to a previous conviction.
This decision sparked violent protests in Van, with Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reporting that 89 people were detained during the unrest.
The reversal of Zeydan’s removal is perceived as a significant victory for the Turkish opposition, particularly following the local elections that dealt a blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling party.
Erdogan’s government has a history of removing elected pro-Kurdish mayors from office, including in Van and other Kurdish-majority towns in southeast Turkey.
The YSK’s decision to reinstate Zeydan came after an appeal by the pro-Kurdish Democratic Regions Party (DEM). The move has been met with celebrations in the southeast region of Turkey, where Zeydan’s victory was seen as a triumph for Kurdish representation in local government.
Istanbul’s re-elected mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, condemned the initial removal of Zeydan as a “total aberration” before the YSK’s decision was made.
This case highlights the ongoing political tensions in Turkey, particularly regarding Kurdish representation and government interference in local elections.
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| aljazeera.com |
|---|
| – Turkey’s election authority reinstated a pro-Kurdish mayoral election winner in the eastern city of Van after his victory was annulled – The decision to remove Abdullah Zeydan was overturned by the Supreme Election Board (YSK) – The reversal is seen as a boost for the Turkish opposition following local elections that dealt a blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his party – Zeydan had won more than 55 percent of the vote in the municipal elections – The regional electoral commission claimed Zeydan was ineligible due to a previous conviction – Violent protests erupted in Van after Zeydan’s removal – Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 89 people were detained during the protests – The YSK decided to reinstate Zeydan as the mayor of Van after considering an appeal by DEM – Erdogan’s government has removed elected pro-Kurdish mayors from office in the past – Besides Van, DEM also claimed mayorships of other large towns in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority southeast – Istanbul’s re-elected mayor Ekrem Imamoglu called the events in Van a “total aberration” before the decision to reinstate Zeydan was made |
| aljazeera.com |
|---|
| – Pro-Kurdish politician had victory in Turkey’s local elections annulled due to time spent in jail – Ruling party’s candidate was set to become mayor – Electoral board reinstated the pro-Kurdish politician – Celebrations in the southeast region of Turkey following the reinstatement |
