“The elections on Sunday are a big test for Turkey”, said PES President Sergei Stanishev, “Our sister parties CHP and HDP have run a good campaign. CHP has concrete proposals, including raising the minimum wage, which will improve the lives of millions of Turkish citizens. They also support the lowering of the election threshold to 5%, an important step forward for democracy.”
Even though Turkey has seen enormous economic progress in the last decade, the last few years have known a decline in fundamental freedoms. The Gezi protests of 2013, which started out as a reaction against the construction of a shopping centre in a public park, ended up representing an outcry of the people against the curtailing of their rights.
“We believe that our sister parties can provide for real democratic change”, continues Sergei Stanishev. “This is time for a renewal. CHP and HDP have an invaluable role to play in the future of Turkey. We will follow the elections with great attention, observing that they are free and fair. We hope for a positive, democratic and progressive outcome.”
