Over 53,000 Syrians to vote in Turkey's elections

By Halil Ibrahim Sincar and Muhammet Mutaf

MARDIN, Turkey

At least 53,000 Syrians will be able to vote in Turkey's local elections to be held on March 31, Turkish interior minister said on Saturday.

Suleyman Soylu said that 53,099 Syrians, who acquired Turkish citizenship, will be able to vote in the local elections.

Soylu made the remarks in the southeastern province of Mardin where he attended an election safety meeting.

"On election day 547,000 security forces will be on duty," Soylu said.

Soylu also said that Turkey assigned 6,680 additional security personnel in 11 provinces and 12 districts to avoid the PKK terror group's threat and pressure against Turkish citizens to vote freely.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people.

Soylu also made remarks at another election safety meeting in eastern Erzurum province, assuring that neither the voting of Syrians, nor errors in address records will have an effect on the election results.

"Turkey is one of the leading countries in the world, and is even well up on the list in terms of holding election and election safety," Soylu said.

Local elections are set to be held across Turkey on March 31, 2019 in order to designate the local authorities.

Election campaigning will end on the evening of March 30, a day before the election.

Last elections in Turkey were presidential and parliamentary elections which were held on June 24, 2018.