TURKEY tr-national

Week's debate over AKP reform package produces seven revisions

ANKARA — Hürriyet Daily News | 3/30/2010 12:00:00 AM |

After a week of debate, Turkey's ruling party makes seven revisions to its proposed constitutional reform package.

[HH] New arrangements

· The number of Constitutional Court members was reduced from 19 to 17 under revised draft. The former draft envisioned the election of two university graduate citizens to the top court by the president, a move that was highly criticized by many including Gül. Under the revised package the president’s authorization to elect two citizens to the top court was abolished.

· An article paving the way for the trial of the Chief of General Staff, force commanders and Parliament Speaker in the Supreme Council was included in the draft.

· Public servants were granted the right to collective agreement and absence of the right to strike was criticized. Under the new draft, the public servants would gain the right to strike. Retired public servants will also benefit from the advantages of the collective agreement. 

· Workers will be able to be member of more than one labor union.

· An economic and social council will be established as an advisory body to the government in identification of the country’s socioeconomic policies. 

· The first draft included the Constitutional Court’s rapporteur in the formation of the Supreme Board of Prosecutors and Judges, or HSYK. This article was removed in the revised draft. The new draft also envisioned the election of one member from the military Supreme Court of Appeals for the HSYK. Acting HSYK president will not be appointed by the board president [Justice Minister] but will be elected in the board’s general assembly.

· The former draft read, “The state [will] take protective measures against sexual and violent child abuse.” The word ‘sexual’ was removed from the article in the revised text. The new text reads, “The state [will] take protective measures against all types of child abuse.”