CHP files complaint against TRT over ‘unfair election broadcasts’

ANKARA

Bülent Tezcan, deputy leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), submitted his petition to the Ankara chief prosecutor. AA Photo

Turkey’s main opposition party has filed a criminal complaint against the country’s state broadcaster, arguing that the channel is airing one-sided coverage of the presidential campaign to the advantage of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Bülent Tezcan, deputy leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), submitted his petition to the Ankara chief prosecutor on the grounds that Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) had violated the principle of impartiality.

“The TRT has turned into ‘Tayyip Radio Television,’” he said. “The TRT, sponsored by the people’s taxes, cannot become Erdoğan’s channel.”

The petition comes as Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu and Selahattin Demirtaş, who are running for the presidency along with Erdoğan, have been complaining about unequal media coverage in their election campaign.

Tezcan underlined that the TRT has been covering Erdoğan’s campaign with all its channels and without giving an adequate share to the two opposition candidates. Tezcan filed a criminal complaint against İbrahim Şahin, head of the TRT, on the grounds that he had violated the Constitution and other international conventions.