Türkiye’s 2023 general elections: ODIHR election observation mission final report

Türkiye’s 2023 general elections offered voters a choice between genuine political alternatives and voter participation was high, but the incumbent president and the ruling parties enjoyed an unjustified advantage, including through biased media coverage. The continued restrictions on fundamental freedoms of assembly, association and expression hindered the participation of some opposition politicians and parties, civil society and independent media in the election process. Nonetheless, the campaign itself was competitive and largely free for most contestants but characterized by intense polarization, and marred by harsh rhetoric. Election day was generally well-organized and assessed positively, however, instances of deficient implementation of certain procedures were noted by the observers.

These are some of the main conclusions from the final report on the May 2023 general elections published today by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

Key recommendations include:

• Conducting a constitutional reform to ensure broad guarantees for fundamental rights, freedoms, and judicial independence;
• Revising the legislative framework to ensure a coherent and stable electoral framework, well in advance of the next elections in an inclusive and transparent consultation process;
• Enhancing transparency and increasing public trust in election administration bodies by holding public sessions and publishing information of public interest;
• Ensuring full voting rights for students in military schools and conscripts and persons with intellectual disabilities, and guaranteeing that restrictions on prisoners’ voting rights are proportionate to the crime committed;
• Introducing temporary special legislative measures to promote women candidates;
• Ensuring a campaign environment free from intimidation and effective oversight of campaign regulations;
• Aligning campaign finance framework with international standards and introducing proportionate sanctions;
• Aligning the media legal framework with international standards on freedom of expression;
• Establishing effective legal redress mechanisms, including review of the election administration decisions by an independent judicial body;
• Ensuring that any restrictions on access to online content have precise and exhaustive legal grounds and conform to international standards.

The ODIHR Election Observation Mission to the 14 May 2023 general elections commenced its work on 29 March 2023, and remained in country to observe the 28 May 2023 run-off of the presidential election. The mission concluded its work on the ground on 6 June.

All 57 participating States across the OSCE region have formally committed to following up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.