Parties intensify pre-poll work as presidential election calendar begins

Political parties have intensified their work for the upcoming presidential elections as the official election calendar in Turkey is set to start on June 29.

With less than 45 days to go until election day, more than 52 million electorates around the country will vote for Turkey’s 12th president.

According to the calendar announced by the Supreme Election Board (YSK), the political parties will be able to make nominations for the upcoming presidential elections starting June 29 and ending July 3. The campaigning period will begin July 11 after the YSK finalizes the candidates and officially publishes them. The first round of elections will take place on Aug. 10 and, if necessary, the second round will be on Aug. 24.  

In line with the start of the election period, the prime minister’s office issued a decree to avoid problems during the period, including election safety and avoiding malfunctions. In the decree, the prime minister to all relevant governmental offices will provide the necessary equipment, such as generators, power supplies and other technical equipment.

Power cuts in a number of constituencies during the March local elections caused controversy and questions arose over the safety of the elections.

Energy Minister Taner Yıldız had blamed a cat entering a power distribution unit for the controversial power blackouts that occurred during the vote counting process after the March 30 local elections.
“I’m not joking, my friends. A cat entered a power distribution unit. It was the cause of the blackout [in Ankara] and it’s not the first time it has happened. It is wrong to link it with the elections. It’s wrong to cry ‘foul play,’” Yıldız said in the...