ABTTF brought Greek electoral threshold problem to the UN agenda

Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) submitted a written statement on electoral threshold in Greece, which stands as an obstacle for Western Thrace Turkish Minority to be politically represented, to the 26th Session of the UN Human Rights Council which summon this year on 10-27 June.

The criteria on protection of minorities, which is a pre-requisite for new Member States to join the EU, is not applicable in the case of EU 15!

Pointing out political participation of ethnic minorities regarded as an indication of modern democracies, ABTTF expressed concern that although the protection of minorities stands as requirements for accession of the candidate countries to the EU, the same condition unfortunately does not pose any obligation to the initial members (EU 15) including Greece. ABTTF reported on the 3% electoral threshold for political parties and independent candidates and informed that for this very reason the members of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority, despite the fact that they make up the 1.5% of the general population, does not have any chances for being elected to Hellenic Parliament. ABTTF furthermore reported that this reason led members of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority to run the elections in the lists of majority parties that in the last elections in Greece three minority members were elected to the national parliament.

The minority is still perceived ad “the other”

In terms of regional administration, ABTTF reported that, the recent administrative reform introduced 13 administrative regions, which resulted in considerable drop in the number of municipalities in Greece. At regional and municipal elections held in 18 and 25 May 2014, mayors elected in Arriana, Iasmos and Myki Municipalities are members of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority, indicated ABTTF. ABTTF raised that the pre-election atmosphere still had implications on the Minority as “the Other” especially when it is taken into account that the former Minister of Education and Religious Affairs Evripidis Stilyanidis had stated Maronia and Iasmos Municipalities are Islamised and restoring these municipalities to the administration of Christians was increasingly necessary.

FEP Party scored highest in Rhodopi and Xanthi at European elections but because of the electoral threshold could not send any MEPs to the European Parliament

In addition to the European elections, on 25 May the second rounds of regional and local elections were held in Greece, reported ABTTF. ABTTF noted while 14 EU Member States did not introduce electoral threshold, the same electoral threshold of 3% was applicable also for the European elections in Greece. ABTTF informed that the political party of the Minority, Friendship, Equality Peace, Party (FEP) took part in the European elections for the first time for the sake of voicing the Minority to Brussels and though having ranked first in Rhodopi and Xanthi with 0, 76 % of votes nation-wide, due to the 3% electoral threshold FEP Party unfortunately could not send any candidates to the European Parliament.

Having called on Greek authorities to lift the 3% electoral threshold, ABTTF asked for special regulations to be introduced for political representation of Western Thrace Turkish Minority in Hellenic Parliament. In addition, ABTTF called on for abrogation of 3% electoral threshold at European elections in Greece, while requesting inclusion of minority to the consultative organs of decision making mechanisms in local, regional and national levels.

You can access the written statement through following link:
http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/sdpage_e.aspx?b=10&se=155&t=7