YSK: Local Election Period to Begin Wednesday

The Supreme Election Board (YSK) announced that the election period for the Local Authorities General Elections to be held on December 6 will begin on Wednesday, October 7, with election bans coming into effect on the same date.

In Announcement No. 6, the YSK recalled that under Article 79 of the Election and Referendum Law, the state, public enterprises, local authorities and other public legal entities, as well as public officials, are required to maintain their impartiality throughout the election period.

The announcement states that the state, public enterprises, local authorities and their affiliated departments and institutions, partnerships and other public legal entities, as well as public officials, are prohibited from making donations or providing assistance of any kind to political parties or candidates, making any vehicles, equipment or resources available to a political party or candidate or using them in political activities, or making any publication in favor of or against a political party or candidate or with the aim of influencing voters.

Books, brochures, posters and similar publications that were previously printed or published and contain material of this nature will also be subject to the same restrictions, according to the announcement.

Public Appointments, Promotions and Transfers Suspended

Under the election bans, vacancies may not be announced in state and public institutions, and appointments may not be made. Promotion examinations, salary-scale adjustments and transfers of personnel between districts will also be suspended during the election period.

Seasonal workers, temporary and contracted teachers hired when vacancies arise in the education sector and it is not possible to fill those positions or make the appointments before the start of the election period, as well as compulsory-service personnel and assistant doctors employed under the Public Health Workers Law, will be exempt from the election bans.

Employment in the health sector will also be exempt where vacancies exist and the appointment is deemed necessary and urgent in the public interest. Student selection, placement and appointment procedures for defence services will also be exempt, as will competency and foreign-language examinations for which the Public Service Commission had set examination dates before the election bans took effect, along with other written examinations for which applications had already been completed.

The contracts of public employees whose contracts expire during the election-ban period may be renewed or extended under the same conditions for a maximum of three months.

Candidates Barred From Financial Contributions; Land Allocation and Some Permits Suspended

According to the YSK announcement, candidates will not be permitted to make financial contributions under any name to sports clubs, associations, charities or similar organizations.

Resource allocation, the opening of new resource packages, leasing and allocation procedures under the Housing, Land Distribution and Equalization Law will be suspended, along with procedures concerning the leasing of low forest land, state property and immovable property registered to the state.

No new plots may be distributed in rural areas, while the Permit Board will not be permitted to issue new permits under the Law on the Control of Passenger and Goods Transportation by Motor Vehicles.

Preliminary permits, permits and licences for the opening of fuel stations, mines and quarries, exchange offices, nightclubs, casinos, gaming halls and virtual betting offices will also be suspended.

Tenders and Citizenship Procedures Also Suspended

All stages of tender procedures conducted by the state and public institutions and organizations will be suspended during the election period. In compulsory cases, tender procedures will require the permission of the YSK.

During this period, no permits to carry or possess firearms may be issued, citizenship applications will be suspended, and personnel may not be employed through funds that have been established for this purpose.

Banks that use public funds as loans, as well as the Central Bank of the TRNC, will be required to submit information on loans they provide during the election period to the TRNC Parliament within three days at the latest.

Opening and Groundbreaking Ceremonies Banned

Under Article 80 of the Election and Referendum Law, no ceremonies, including opening and groundbreaking ceremonies, may be held between the start of the election period and the announcement of the election results for works and services carried out using the resources of the state, public enterprises, local authorities and other public legal entities.

The restrictions also cover speeches, statements and broadcasts through any medium concerning such works and services.

Restrictions on Official Vehicles and Protocol Procedures

Under Article 81 of the law, the President, Prime Minister, ministers and MPs will not be permitted to use official vehicles or government service vehicles during domestic trips throughout the same period.

Reception and farewell ceremonies required by protocol may not be held during such trips, and official banquets may not be hosted. The President, Prime Minister and ministers will also be required to comply with the provisions of the Election and Referendum Law in their election-related activities and speeches.

Under Article 82, no public official may accompany the President, Prime Minister, ministers, MPs or candidates on domestic trips during the election period.