Rising Tensions Ahead of Turkey's June 7 Parliamentary Election

Strategic Insights -

Violent attacks and harsh rhetoric by some leading politicians have sparked serious safety concerns ahead of Turkey's June 7 parliamentary election. The opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy candidate Elif Dogan Turkmen was assaulted by unidentified armed people in Adana, leaving her with non-life-threatening injuries. The attack has raised fears of more provocations targeting political parties until the election.

Key Takeaways:

  • Elif Dogan Turkmen, a CHP deputy candidate, was shot three times in a restaurant in Adana, leaving her with non-life-threatening injuries.
  • The attack was intended to intimidate her ahead of the elections, according to Turkmen herself.
  • The police have launched an investigation to find the perpetrators, but the ruling party has yet to take responsibility for finding them.
  • There have been several other attacks on election campaign buses, offices, and candidates across the country, including an assault on a CHP candidate in Adana and an attack on an AK Party campaign bus in Batman.
  • The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has been a target of several attacks, including arson and the burning of party flags.
  • Some leading politicians, including Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have been accused of fueling tension with harsh rhetoric, targeting opposition parties and media outlets.
  • A report by the Human Rights Association (iHD) revealed that there have been 126 attacks on political parties between March 23 and May 19, including armed attacks, bomb attacks, and arson attacks.
  • The report stated that 114 attacks targeted HDP election offices, while the AK Party was subjected to seven attacks, and the CHP was the target of four attacks.

Statistics:

  • Elif Dogan Turkmen was shot three times in the Adana attack.
  • 126 attacks were carried out against political parties between March 23 and May 19, according to the Human Rights Association (iHD) report.
  • 114 attacks targeted HDP election offices, 7 attacks targeted AK Party offices, and 4 attacks targeted CHP offices.
  • 3 armed attacks, 2 bomb attacks, and 2 arson attacks were carried out against HDP election offices.
  • 2 armed attacks and 2 arson attacks were carried out against AK Party offices.
  • 1 armed attack was carried out against a CHP office.

Sources:

  • Report by the Human Rights Association (iHD), "Attacks against political parties between March 23-May 19"
  • Statement by Elif Dogan Turkmen
  • Statement by Mustafa Buyuk, Adana Governor
  • Statement by Kemal Kilicdaroglu, CHP leader
  • Statement by Burhanettin Bulut, CHP Adana provincial office head
  • Statement by Mengucek Gazi Ciritik, Adana Bar Association President
  • Statement by Sezgin Tanrikulu, CHP Deputy Chairman
  • Column by Hasan Cemal for the T24 news portal.