DTP has won local elections in Northern Kurdistan. The Democratic Society Party, the only Kurdish party holding representation in Turkish institutions, has gained a total of 58 mayoralties, 4 more if compared to last local elections in 2004. Among them, there are the most important cities of the country: Diyarbakir, Van, Hakkari, Şırnak, Tunceli and Batman. In Diyarbakir, a city considered the unofficial capital of Northern Kurdistan, DTP obtained absolute majority, attracting 65% of the vote.

AKP (Justice and Development Party), the party currently in power in Turkey, has lost in favour of DTP the municipalities of Van −the second largest city in Northern Kurdistan−, Siirt, Igdir and Mardin −all of them province capitals. DTP supporters took to the streets of Diyarbakir on Sunday evening to celebrate their victory, which will allow Osman Baydemir to hold office in the city. DTP has won the 5.42 % of the vote in the whole of Turkey.

Prior to elections, members of DTP had declared in a number of occasions they expected to get twice the number of mayoralties. Aysel Tugluk, member of the Turkish parliament, said yesterday that the results “have failed to live up to their expectations”. Kurdish parties, which are constantly prosecuted by the Turkish courts, are finding it difficult to implement their policies regarding the promotion of Kurdish language and culture and the establishment of an autonomous territory. Local power is, therefore, the only feasible framework from which the Kurdish proposal of Democratic Autonomy can be set up.

Observers’ reports expected

DTP deputies had requested on-the-spot visits by international observers in order to avoid ballot rigging. CIEMEN responded to the demand by coordinating a Catalan delegation visiting Kurdistan from March 26 to April 1. The delegation tour and activities can be followed in a blog, which includes interviews to Kurdish political representatives and members of NGO’s, visits to several towns and on-the-spot monitoring in electoral colleges.

The final report will be issued and presented on Wednesday, April 1, in a press conference at CIEMEN headquarters. For the time being, Catalan observers have denounced irregularities such as paramilitary and military presence in electoral colleges and their environments, fake electoral registers and voting under duress.

Deputy Aysel Tuğluk has criticized the AKP vote-buying strategy based on threatening voters and delivering fridges to Kurds, thus taking advantage of their poverty.

Further information:

• Today's Zaman: DTP multiplies votes in southeastern provinces
• Hurriyet: Pro-Kurdish DTP sweeps Diyarbakir
• Reuters: AK Party wins Turkish vote but reforms less clear
• Blog of the Catalan delegation of observers
• Nationalia: Abdullah Demirbas: 'We have another party ready for when DTP is banned'