On Monday 25 June, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said the conditions for campaigning for the general and presidential elections in Turkey on 24 June "were not equal".
While the voters had a genuine choice, "the conditions for campaigning were not equal. In addition, the restrictive legal framework and powers granted under the ongoing state of emergency restricted the freedoms of assembly and expression, including in the media", Mogherini and Hahn stated, concurring with the assessment of the OSCE election observation mission. They nevertheless underlined "the very high voter turnout and a broad spectrum of candidates and parties competing in the elections". They added that "this reaffirmed the strong attachment of the Turkish people to democratic processes and the pursuit of their civil liberties, as well as the rule of law and fundamental freedoms".
Mogherini and Hahn announced they would work with the president and parliament to address together the many common challenges ahead. European Commission spokesperson Margaritis Schinas said the Commission hoped Turkey would remain a committed partner for the EU on major issues of common interest, such as migration, security, regional stability and counter-terrorism.
In their statement, Mogherini and Hahn said that the elections trigger the entry into force of the new presidential system, which has "far reaching" implications for Turkish democracy regarding checks and balances. "In general, Turkey would benefit from urgently addressing key shortcomings regarding the rule of law and fundamental rights", they added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)