In a first joint statement with HR/VP Mogherini issued on 6 May, EU Enlargement Commissioner Hahn stated that the decision by the Supreme Election Council to declare elected mayors and members of municipal councils ineligible to assume office in the south-east Turkey and to give mayoral mandates to the candidates who got the second highest number of votes go against the core aim of a democratic electoral process. In a separate interview, Commissioner Hahn told Welt Am Sonntag that he and HR/VP Mogherini “emphasized the need for the responsible institutions to explain the reasons for their far-reaching decision. That did not happen. What was publicly announced as a reason is a farce”, read Welt. The local election will take place on 23 June.