Turkey’s election board will commit a constitutional crime should it approve Erdogan’s candidacy: CHP

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) said Supreme Election Board’s (YSK) approving President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s candidacy would be a Constitutional crime.

“According to the Constitution, it is not possible for Erdogan to be elected president for the third time. If they do not nominate a constitutional candidate and insist on Erdogan’s name, it is obvious that there will be plenty of objection applications to the YSK. And if the YSK approves Erdogan's candidacy, it will commit a Constitutional crime," Ozgur Ozel, CHP’s parliamentary deputy chair told Sozcu newspaper on Thursday.

Turkey is facing presidential and parliamentary elections officially scheduled for June 18 at the latest. Erdogan who already announced his candidacy last year, on Monday said that he will use his authority to start the election process in March for the vote to be held on May 14.

Erdogan who assumed office in 2014 is currently on his second term as president, which is the maximum he could hold the post according to the Constitution.

Article 101 of Turkey’s Constitution says that "The term of the president of the republic is five years. A person may be elected president of the republic for a maximum of two terms."

However, Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) says that Article 101 does not prevent Erdogan's candidacy, as it was applied for the first time in 2018 elections as Turkey adopted a presidential system of governance in a nationwide referendum held in 2017, that granted Erdogan vast executive powers.

Earlier this week, CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said that there’s no point of filing an objection against Erdogan’s candidacy, because the YSK is composed of members appointed by the President himself.

"Let's say we haven't remained silent and filed an objection. Where will it go? To the Supreme Election Board. Who appoints the members of the board? Erdogan himself. Who will refute his decision,” CHP leader said.