CHP calls extraordinary TBMM meeting on Atalay again

Duvar English

Turkish main opposition, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) has called another extraordinary session of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) on September 10 regarding Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) deputy Can Atalay.

Deputy group chair Murat Emir announced the decision during a press conference at the parliament. 

Emir reminded that despite the Constitutional Court's rulings, Can Atalay was still being held in prison, and the Court of Cassation's decision was read in the General Assembly in an attempt to strip Atalay of his parliamentary status.

CHP held another meeting was required to read the Constitutional Court's decision regarding Atalay and to investigate the "crisis between judicial bodies."

Emir stated that the CHP had once again appealed to the Constitutional Court, arguing that the decision to strip Atalay of his parliamentary status was "illegal and null." He noted that the Constitutional Court reaffirmed that the actions taken were unconstitutional. 

Emir continued, "As it stands, Can Atalay is a member of parliament. His parliamentary status has not been revoked, yet he is being held in prison and is unable to perform his duties as a parliamentarian. A member of the parliament, elected by the people, is currently being held in prison without any legal basis.” 

“The speaker, the deputies, and the TBMM as an institution cannot remain silent, indifferent, or turn a blind eye to this injustice and the unlawful detention of one of its members. Therefore, we are calling for an extraordinary session of the TBMM General Assembly on September 10 under Article 7 of the parliamentary bylaws," he added. 

Emir emphasized that the Constitutional Court's rulings are binding on the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, saying, "The Court of Cassation cannot simply ignore the Constitutional Court. This judicial crisis must be addressed.”

In its request for an extraordinary session, the CHP also proposed the establishment of a parliamentary investigation committee to examine the causes and consequences of this legal and constitutional crisis.

Emir dismissed claims that the TBMM General Assembly cannot be convened for an extraordinary session on the same issue twice, arguing that this view is entirely incorrect.

He highlighted that their current request for an extraordinary session differs from the Aug. 16 session that ended up in a parliament-wide brawl. 

"First, when we made our initial request, we hoped that the Speaker of the Parliament would present the Constitutional Court's decision regarding Can Atalay to the General Assembly on his own initiative. However, he acted as if the Constitutional Court's ruling did not exist and did not present it.”

In this request, the party was asking for the speaker to present that decision to the General Assembly. Additionally, unlike the previous request, which called for a general debate, this was a motion for a parliamentary investigation."

Emir also noted that their request for an extraordinary session had received support from other opposition party groups and many independent MPs.

The first extraordinary session the TBMM held on Aug. 16, during its recess, ended without results after a brawl erupted between deputies of the TİP and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). 

Several opposition deputies were injured as others joined the brawl to separate the sides. 

Atalay was sentenced in 2022 after being convicted of trying to overthrow the government by allegedly organizing the nationwide Gezi Park protests in 2013 with philanthropist Osman Kavala, also jailed, and six others. 

In January 2024, the parliament stripped Atalay of his seat following the Court of Cassation ruling, the highest appeals court in the country, against the Constitutional Court ruling. 

The Constitutional Court had ruled in October 2023 that the imprisonment of the elected deputy violated his rights to security, liberty and the right to be elected.

Atalay was elected to parliament in May 2023 from the TİP while serving his 18-year prison sentence.