The second round of the presidential elections in Türkiyewhich led to his new victory Recep Tayyip Erdoganwas marked by “increasingly inflammatory rhetoric” and “restrictions” on Freedom of expressionas stated in the application Council of Europe.

The vote was “characterized by increasingly inflammatory and discriminatory rhetoric during the electoral period.” Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (KKSE), who participated with him Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as part of the election observation mission.

Moreover, “media bias and continued restrictions on freedom of expression” “created an uneven playing field and helped create an unfair advantage” for Erdogan, despite the fact that the vote “went smoothly and gave voters the opportunity to choose between real alternative political options.” , also reports KKSE.

“The second round of the presidential elections clearly defined the winner,” the German Frank Schwabemember of the CCSE delegation, the announcement says.

“However, this second round also took place in an environment that in many respects does not provide conditions for holding democratic elections,” he added.

He called on Ankara to comply with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and, above all, to release Osman Kavala And Selahattin Demirtasa midwife and leader of the pro-Kurdish HDP (People’s Democratic Party), respectively, and opponents of Erdogan, who are now in prison.

Sending observers to the second round presidential elections in Turkey developed 232 observers from 31 countriesaccording to KSSE.