Extending the parliamentary terms tops Constitutional Committee agenda
As Constitutional Committee representatives from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) recently finalized the draft of a mini-constitution legislative package, the committee is expected to do the final touches on the package – including 10-to-15 article amendments – after Qurban Bayram (Feast of the Sacrifice), also known as Eid al-Adha, on Sept. 12. The legislative package also topped the agenda of the recent Central Executive Board (MYK) of the AK Party where the party's committee member, deputy Abdülhamit Gül, provided a briefing on the latest developments regarding the talks. It has been noted by sources close to the committee that all three parties agreed on the closure of military courts as well as the expansion of the election term of parliamentarians from four years to five years.
Though the previous Parliament's Constitution Conciliation Committee fell apart after the CHP left the negotiation table, the political parties did, however, agree on 60 articles for a new constitution during the 24th legislative session. In this respect, current committee members agreed to include those 60 articles, which are based on basic rights and freedoms, in the new constitution legislative package. Despite the holidays, committee members are to continue their discussions and finally introduce the new package to the public after Qurban Bayram. While one of the most striking amendments from the package is the span of parliamentary elections – changed from every four years to every five years, it will not affect the term lengths of current deputies.
The committee had initially listened to representatives' presentations from the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) and suggested to split the HSYK into the Supreme Board of Judges and the Supreme Board of Prosecutors. During the latest meeting of the committee, the splitting of HSYK into two was waived. Furthermore, during the AK Party's MYK meeting, committee member Gül told the party's MYK member that there is disagreement on the HYSK matter and that committee members agreed to the closure of military court of appeals and the military high administrative court.
Though the previous Parliament's Constitution Conciliation Committee fell apart after the CHP left the negotiation table, the political parties did, however, agree on 60 articles for a new constitution during the 24th legislative session. In this respect, current committee members agreed to include those 60 articles, which are based on basic rights and freedoms, in the new constitution legislative package. Despite the holidays, committee members are to continue their discussions and finally introduce the new package to the public after Qurban Bayram. While one of the most striking amendments from the package is the span of parliamentary elections – changed from every four years to every five years, it will not affect the term lengths of current deputies.
The committee had initially listened to representatives' presentations from the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) and suggested to split the HSYK into the Supreme Board of Judges and the Supreme Board of Prosecutors. During the latest meeting of the committee, the splitting of HSYK into two was waived. Furthermore, during the AK Party's MYK meeting, committee member Gül told the party's MYK member that there is disagreement on the HYSK matter and that committee members agreed to the closure of military court of appeals and the military high administrative court.