Turkey: Snap elections to take place June 24

Event

On Wednesday, April 18, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that presidential and legislative elections will be held on June 24. The vote was originally scheduled for November 2019. According to Erdogan, the election needed to be moved up in order to implement the new system of government intended to strengthen the country. Demonstrations against the decision are possible in the coming weeks and months, particularly in Istanbul. 

Context

The security situation remains tense in Turkey, particularly after several protests were held across the country on April 16 against the planned extension of the current state of emergency. If approved, it will be the seventh extension since its initial implementation following the failed coup d'état of July 15, 2016. Since then, nearly 150,000 people have been fired or forced to resign from their jobs and over 60,000 people have been arrested. Critics have repeatedly denounced the increasing restrictions of political freedom and human rights violations, which they claim are ongoing under the guise of national security.

Advice

Individuals in Turkey are advised to monitor the situation and avoid possible demonstrations as a precaution. Due to the risk of terrorism throughout the country, individuals present in Turkey are advised to maintain a high degree of vigilance, to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities, and to be particularly cautious when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels, and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.).