Turkey: 'Supreme Election Council won't bow to threats'

By Aylin Sirikli

ANKARA (AA) - Two days after ordering fresh mayoral elections in Istanbul, Turkey's electoral authority said it will continue doing its duty without bowing down to threats, pressure, or smears.

"It is unacceptable for judges to be smeared and personally made into targets due to their rulings," the Supreme Election Council (YSK) said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement said under Turkey's Constitution and laws, even if a person is a member of the legislature with immunity from prosecution, that does not give anyone the freedom to commit crimes or insult members of the judiciary.

The statement came after the council's decision to hold a do-over Istanbul mayoral election on June 23 attracted harsh criticism from opposition politicians.

In its decision, it said some polling officials and staff during the March 31 election were not civil servants as required by law.

Millions of Turkish voters cast their votes nationwide on March 31 in local elections to choose mayors, city council members, and other officials for the next five years.