Amnesty not on AKP’s agenda: Spokesperson

ANKARA

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesperson Ömer Çelik has said “amnesty is not on the immediate agenda” of the ruling party, after the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) drafted a proposal to introduce amnesty for certain convicts.

“We maintain the position we had previously announced. We do not have amnesty in our agenda,” Çelik said following the ruling party’s top executive board meeting on Aug. 29.

His comment came as the MHP has completed the preparation of a draft bill granting amnesty to certain convicts.

The bill was among the election manifesto of the party, which has stirred a debate between the opposition.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is also the ruling party leader, has said his party is not considering an amnesty during the election period, as Çelik reiterated the AKP’s position on the issue.

The nationalist party’s eight-article amnesty bill excludes prisoners convicted on charges of membership to a terror organization, such as the illegal PKK or FETÖ.

It also excludes granting amnesty to inmates convicted over charges of child abuse and femicide.