Inter-party commission agrees on mini Turkish Constitution change
ANKARA
A commission set up by three political parties represented at parliament has agreed on a seven-article constitutional change, particularly on restructuring judicial bodies, in what they say is an attempt to enhance the independence of the judiciary and to clear it of Gülenist judges and prosecutors. Abdülhamit Gül from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Engin Altay from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), and Mehmet Parsak from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), announced the conclusion of works by the commission at a joint press conference at parliament on Sept. 23.
Members of the commission did not give details about which articles they have agreed on.
However, the articles were mostly about the military judiciary, including the abolition of top military courts and the removal of the gendarmerie commander from the National Security Council (MGK), private broadcaster NTV has reported.
The agreement will be introduced to the heads of their respective parties, who will give the final word.
“We have agreed on seven articles but there are a few more articles we can come to an agreement on soon,” Parsak told reporters after the meeting.
One of the articles on which there are still differences is the structure of the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), Altay stated.
If the three parties in the commission eventually approve the constitutional amendments, they will together submit it to parliament.
The commission does not include the Kurdish-question focused Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).
