Turkish district election board orders removal of Foreign Minister's posters for violating election law
Antalya Muratpaşa District Election Board has ordered for the removal of Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu's posters for their inclusion of the Turkish flag. According to the election law, posters used for propaganda cannot include the Turkish flag or religious symbols.
Duvar English
The Muratpaşa District Election Board of the southern Antalya province has ruled that posters featuring ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary candidate and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu be removed from billboards for their inclusion of the Turkish flag, according to the daily BirGün.
The ruling came following an objection made by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
The district election board on May 1 said that it is forbidden "to have the Turkish flag and religious phrases on flyers and all other printed materials used for propaganda" according to Article 58 of the election law. The board sent a letter to Muratpaşa District Security Directorate to collect the posters.
The posters in question wish citizens Happy Eid al-Fitr, but also mention Çavuşoğlu as the parliamentary candidate of the AKP.
Turkey is heading to the presidential and general elections on May 14 in a highly skewed playing ground for the opposition parties. As accrued in the past elections, the AKP has been using state resources and official channels to spread its propaganda while several ministers run election campaigns without resigning from their offices.