ISTANBUL,
June 11 (IslamOnline.net) – When the Dutch kicked off the biggest
European Union elections Thursday, June 10, the Muslim presence was
obviously felt with 30 Dutch Muslims of Turkish and Kurdish origins
taking part in the European Parliament (EP) polls, sitting in as
candidates.
The
Muslim candidates, among other Dutch candidates, compete to win 27
seats out of the 732 EP seats, among speculations they would get six
seats through the support of 240.000 Turks with Dutch nationality.
Turkish
Hurriyet newspaper reported Wednesday that chances of
Muslims of Turkish origins winning in Holland waver between three to
six seats, depending on the rate of participation by the Europe-based
Turkish community that has citizenship rights in the EU states.
"Prominent
among candidates are Amina Buzkort for the Dutch Labor Party, Dogan
Jock for the Dutch Greens Party and Nesrine Jean for the Democratic
Social Party," the paper reported.
Othman
Almagy, a candidate, has called upon the Dutch Turks to cast their
ballots to support the Turks' chances of winning. Almagy held a press
conference for this purpose in Amsterdam June 6.
The
largest Turkish-Kurdish-Arab community lives in Germany. Its
population amounts to 2-3 millions. Foural Ower and Ozan Gihon are
candidates for the Democratic Social Party, while Gem Ozdimir is a
candidate for the Greens Party.
In
Belgium, host of the EU headquarters, only women of Turkish origins
are nominated. The Social Party has put Fatima Bahlawan on its list
for the second time running, as she had won candidacy of the European
Parliament for the same party, while the Greens has preferred Merriam
Katshar and the Liberal Party has chosen Johnson Almaz.
732
Seats For 350 Million Voters
The
EP seats have increased to 732, instead of 626, after 10 new states
have joined it May 1, 2004, including Greek Cyprus.
After
10 new states have joined, the EP seats are distributed as follows: 99
seats for Germany, 78 for Italy, 54 for each of Spain and Poland, 24
for each of Belgium, Scheck Republic, Greece, Hungary and Portugal, 19
for Sweden, 18 for Austria, 14 for each of Denmark, Slovakia and
Finland, 13 for Ireland and Lithuania, 9 for Latvia, 7 for Slovenia, 6
for Estonia and Luxembourg and Greek Cyprus and 5 for Malta.
Turkish
press reports pointed out that the number of voters in the E.U. states
amount to 350. EP elections will continue up to June 13, following
which the results will be declared.
