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ERDOGAN RULES OUT EARLY ELECTIONS

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Friday ruled out the possibility of early parliamentary elections after country's election board announced that referendum on constitutional amendments would be held in September.

Kategori	: POLITICS
Yorum Sayısı	: 0
Okunma	: 618
Tarih	: 16.05.2010

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Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) filed an application with the Constitutional Court on Friday for the cancellation of the law on amendments to several articles of the Constitution.

The application was signed by 97 CHP deputies, 7 independent deputies, 6 deputies from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and 1 deputy from the Democrat Party (DP).

The CHP strongly opposed the proposed reforms of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, which included changes on the structure of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK).

The Higher Board of Elections (YSK) on Thursday decided that a referendum would take place on September 12 on the reforms and relevant amendments.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul approved the Constitutional amendments on Wednesday and his decision was published in the Official Gazette on Thursday, the day when referendum process began officially.

The YSK's decision will be valid if the Constitutional Court does not cancel the reform package.

On May 7, Turkish Parliament adopted the constitutional amendment bill in the final voting of the package as a whole.

The package, except for the rejected article 8th on the closure of political parties and a related provisional article, was adopted by 336 votes in favor and 72 against.
The law is set to be put to referendum in line with the Turkish constitution because it received votes more than 330 but less than 367.

The package brings amendments to the structure of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK).

It abolishes the provisional article 15 of the constitution which does not allow trial of the members of the National Security Council formed after the military coup in 1980.

The law also abolishes the ban on right to general strike; paves the way for a citizen to become a member of more than one union, and the civil servants and other public officials the right to collective bargaining.

It paves the way for trial of parliament speaker, chief of general staff, and senior commanders by the High Tribunal on charges of crimes they commit regarding their positions.

The main opposition party is sceptical of the law as it fears it would erode the independence of the judiciary.

CHP also argues that with 26 articles put to vote as a package, rises the question of non-separability of preferences of voters, as they are expected to vote "yes" or "no" to the whole package. It criticises the voting of the package as a whole arguing that all articles should be put to vote separately.

Second opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) accuses the government of attempting to politicize the judiciary and subordinate the judiciary to the executive branch.

However, the ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party denies accusations and argues that the law aims at making Turkey more democratic in line with EU's expectations.

TURKEY PRESS