ANKARA - The Labor Party (IP) objected to nomination of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan in by-election to be held in southeastern province of Siirt on March 9, 2003.
Mehmet Cengiz, the lawyer of the IP, submitted a two-page petition to the Higher Electoral Board (YSK)
Addressing journalists, Cengiz said, ''in its decision to cancel the election in Siirt, the YSK said that the by-election to be held in Siirt on March 9 is the continuation of the general elections on November 3, 2002. According to Article 25 of Election Law, list of nominees cannot be changed in by-election. In fact, Erdogan cannot be nominated in accordance with Article 16 of the Election Law. The article in question says that if a person becomes a nominee from a region, he cannot become a nominee from another region for the same election.''