A twenty-member delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will carry out a mission from 29 March until 1 April to observe local elections in various regions of Türkiye held on 31 March 2024. The delegation will be accompanied by an expert and the secretariat.

Prior to the onsite deployment, the delegation, led by David Eray (Switzerland, EPP/CCE), held online meetings with members of the delegation of Türkiye to the Congress, representatives of the Radio and Television Supreme Council and of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, as well as with representatives of domestic NGOs and the media.

In the run-up to Election Day, the delegation will also hold exchanges in Ankara with various stakeholders, including national and local authorities, as well as with candidates and representatives of political parties running in the elections.

On Election Day, 12 Congress teams will be deployed to monitor the election procedures in polling stations, from opening to closing and counting, in different areas throughout the country.

A press conference presenting the findings of the delegation will take place on 1 April at 11:00 at the Hilton Hotel in Ankara (Kavaklıdere, Tahran Cd. No:12, 06700 Çankaya/Ankara). A press release will be published on the Congress website.

Congress Delegation:

Mr David ERAY, Switzerland, EPP/CCE, R, Head of Delegation

Mr Vladimir PREBILIC, Slovenia, SOC/G/PD, L, Deputy Head of Delegation

Mr Mathieu CUIP, France, EPP/CCE, R

Ms Dusica DAVIDOVIC, Serbia, SOC/G/PD, R

Ms Carla DEJONGHE, Belgium, ILDG, R

Mr Jonathan DENIS, United Kingdom, SOC/G/PD, L

Ms Jacqueline FEHR, Switzerland, SOC/G/PD, R

Ms Jana FISCHEROVA, Czechia, ECR, L

Ms Cecilia FRIDERICS, Hungary, ECR, L

Ms Tanja JOONA, Finland, ILDG, L

Mr James MOLONEY, Ireland, ILDG, L

Mr Michael ROSENBERG, Sweden, ECR, L

Mr Soeren SCHUMACHER, Germany, SOC/G/PD, R

Mr Igor STOJANOVIĆ, Bosnia and Herzegovina, SOC/G/PD, R

Ms Augusta TADDEI, San Marino, NR, L

Mr Kristoffer TAMSONS, Sweden, EPP/CCE, R

Ms Linda TAYLOR, United Kingdom, ECR, L

Ms Sevdia UGREKHELIDZE, Georgia, EPP/CCE, L

Mr Leendert VERBEEK, Netherlands, SOC/G/PD, R

Mr Richard VERES, Czechia, ILDG, L

Expert:

Mr Ulrik KJÆR, Professor, Congress expert on electoral matters

See also: Congress webpage on the observation of local and regional elections

Contact: Stephanie Poirel