Turkish citizens cast ballots in the presidential election, at Turkish embassy in Doha. PICS: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
A large number of Turkish expatriates turned up to cast their votes for the presidential election run-off at the premises of the Embassy of Türkiye in Qatar yesterday.
The polling for the country’s presidential election run-off for Turkish diaspora, which began on Saturday at the Turkish Embassy in Qatar, will conclude today.
The embassy, with authorities concerned, made adequate arrangements to ensure a smooth election process as citizens pick between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu after no candidate secured more than 50 percent of the vote in the first election. Several buses have been mobilised to ferry voters from pickup points to the polling station at the embassy. The Peninsula observed officials and volunteers as they facilitated voters.
Speaking to The Peninsula, Ambassador of Türkiye, H E Dr. Mustafa Göksu, said three ballot boxes have been set up at the Embassy for eligible voters for the second round of the presidential election. “Voting started on May 20 and shall continue until May 22. Citizens can cast their votes from 8 am to 10 pm,” said Göksu.
Ambassador of Turkiye H E Dr. Mustafa Goksu speaking to The Peninsula.
He said every precaution and all necessary measures were taken to ensure a smooth process and encouraged citizens to cast their votes in confidence, peace and security. “Turkish voters will go to the polls to determine the next president of the Republic of Türkiye, hoping to complete their democratic experience,” added Göksu.
He said that during the first round, about 10,800 eligible Turkish voters cast their votes at the embassy, with a participation rate of 62%.
“I call on our citizens abroad in general, and our Turkish citizens residing in Qatar in particular, to exercise their constitutional right and national duty by casting their votes at the embassy, to choose the President of the Republic who will lead the country in the next five years,” said Göksu.
Meanwhile, voters lauded the Turkish Embassy and authorities concerned for making fantastic arrangements enabling them to cast their votes within a few minutes.
Türkiye will hold the presidential election run-off domestically on May 28. More than 64 million people were eligible to vote to elect a president and parliament for a five-year term.
