Turkish Citizens abroad seek greater role in Turkey's politics

Pointing to more than 2.5 million Turkish voters in Europe, a new report by a civil society organization in Germany is calling for legal changes to allow these citizens to be represented in Turkish politics directly in Parliament. In 2007 only 110,000 of these people used their right to vote, since polling stations are not available at embassies or consulates, and they have to travel to customs points at Turkey's borders. Turkish citizens living abroad are seeking a greater role in the politics of their home country, calling for changes that would make it easier for them to vote and even elect their own representatives to Parliament. "There are 2.44 million Turkish citizens living in Europe who are eligible to vote, but only 110,000 of them were able to vote in Turkey's 2007 general election," said Professor Faruk Sen, head of the Turkish-German Education and Scientific Research Foundation (TAVAK). Currently Turkish citizens living abroad have to travel to a Turkish border customs checkpoint border 90 days before an election and cast their vote there, rather than being able to vote at their embassies or consulates, as citizens of many other countries can do.