Re-elected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was sworn in on Saturday. But criticism of the election conditions continues – and Turkish opposition members should expect negative consequences for their criticism.
Erdogan promised on Saturday to “do his duty impartially” before 600 MPs in Ankara. The 69-year-old won the second round last Sunday with 52 percent of the vote against opposition social-democratic candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
“I swear, as president, to use all my strength to protect the existence and independence of the state,” the president said at the ceremony, which was broadcast live on Turkish television. A ceremony was then planned at the presidential palace, which was to be attended by various heads of state from around the world.
The Islamist conservative Erdogan has ruled the country for 20 years: as prime minister since 2003 and as president since 2014. Erdogan has ruled in an increasingly authoritarian manner over the years, and critics accuse him of suppressing the opposition.
Election observers criticize “media bias”
After the second round of the elections for the Turkish presidency, international election observers criticized the conditions of the elections. OSCE member Frank Schwabe explained that the second ballot took place in an environment that “in many respects did not provide the conditions for democratic elections”.
An OSCE statement spoke of Erdogan as “favoured”. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe also said the election campaign was marked by “increasingly inflammatory and discriminatory language”. The elections themselves “went well” and voters had the opportunity to choose between “genuine political alternatives”.
However, “media bias” and the “ongoing restriction of freedom of expression” created unequal conditions in favor of Erdogan.
Turkish opposition members are preparing for negative consequences
Due to their coverage of the elections in Turkey, local opposition channels should expect negative consequences. Following the re-election of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday, the national broadcaster announced that investigations had been launched into a total of seven broadcasters that broadcast “humiliating statements” about the Turkish people on election night.
The Turkish government directly or indirectly controls a large part of the media landscape. Observers see limited freedom of the press as one of the reasons for Erdogan’s electoral success. The broadcasting authority is considered to be close to the government. According to a classification by the organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Turkey ranks 165th out of 180 in terms of press freedom. Austria ranks 29th.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
