The Ministry of Environment and Forestry and governors from a number of cities have on various occasions called on political parties to run eco-friendly elections campaigns for the upcoming local elections. These requests, however, seem to fall on deaf ears, given the litter parties leave in the streets from the materials they use to promote their candidates for the elections. As only one month is left before the municipal elections, in which voters will select more than 200,000 new mayors and hundreds of provincial and local administrators, political parties have accelerated their campaign efforts. But the materials they use contribute more to environmental pollution than drawing in voters, according to environmental activists.
“Local elections stand as a touchstone in democracies. Candidates of 21 different political parties will compete on March 29 to serve the country. Parties should be sensitive toward the environment during their election campaigns,” said Süleyman Yorulmaz, chairman of the Environment, Culture and Solidarity Association (ÇEKÜD).
There is fierce competition among political parties for these elections, which many believe will represent a turning point in Turkish politics. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) plans to sweep a majority of the votes to consolidate its grip on power and give it momentum to pursue its reform policies. Other parties, particularly the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) hope to avoid crushing defeat against the governing party. The eye-for-an-eye race among the parties has prompted them to back their candidates with intense election campaigns.
“Our demand from all political parties is to conduct election campaigns that are sensitive to the environment. Mayoral candidates should avoid using items that can only be used once, and instead should choose materials that can be reused and recycled after the elections,” Yorulmaz said.
A similar demand was made in late January by Environment Minister Veysel Eroğlu, who called on the leaders of political parties to conduct environmentally friendly election campaigns. He urged the use of electronic technology instead of conventional flags, banners and flyers and to recycle the materials they use in the future. “A reduction in the use of such publicity items as flyers, brochures, posters and flags is important for the protection of the environment and the development of sensitivity toward the environment,” he said.
Antalya Gov. Alaaddin Yüksel issued a similar warning to mayoral candidates in his city, urging them to use fewer brochures, flags and flyers during their election campaigns. He also said he would not allow candidates to have their campaign items hung or glued anywhere in the city except around election offices. “Individuals who go against this will be punished in accordance with the Environmental Law,” Yüksel stated. Mustafa Göktaş, head of the Environment and Consumer Protection Society (ÇETKO), stated that environmental pollution sees an increase as local elections draw nearer. He complained that candidates glue or attach their propaganda items to almost everything, including tree trunks, utility poles, transformers and walls.
“This is insensitivity toward the environment. We demand that political parties not pollute the environment during election campaigns. They need to conduct their election campaigns through more modern and eco-friendly methods,” he said. Göktaş added that distribution of election materials is a primary cause of long-lasting pollution in the environment.
“Candidates place their own publicity materials on top of other items. This creates visual pollution. Authorities should take immediate steps to prevent this. I call on all candidates to compete in a more modern and civil manner. They have no right to strip us of our right to live in a clean environment,” Göktaş added.
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