Turkish Parliament’s recess begins: How will parties prepare for new term?

Ceren Bayar / Gazete Duvar

Turkish Parliament went into recess for two months after an intense and controversial legislative period. The last debate in the general assembly was on the law proposal allowing the killing of stray dogs, which was passed into law despite harsh objections from the opposition parties.

The summer break will be a time for all parties to prepare for the new period which will start on Oct. 1.

Top court’s ruling on Atalay

Immediately after Parliament's closure, the Constitutional Court (AYM) ruled that the parliament's decision to strip Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) lawmaker Can Atalay of his parliamentary seat was “legally null and void.”

Opposition parties have argued that Atalay's parliamentary status should be restored and he should be released. However, the parties still could not debate the issue in the parliament due to recess.

However, on Aug. 15, the parliament will hold an extraordinary session for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to deliver a speech.

Atalay's situation has been expected to be raised by the opposition parties in this extraordinary session. AYM's decision will be recorded in this session for the first time.

Erdoğan to wait for response from Assad

One of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's major goals for some time has been to arrange a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and start a "normalization process.”

Nonetheless, Assad has various reservations, including the withdrawal of the Turkish army from Syria. It has been expected that Erdoğan would continue to keep the meeting on the agenda.

President Erdoğan is expected to take a short break in the coming days, after which he is expected to embark on an intensive program including a series of contacts and meetings, especially on foreign policy.

AKP to work on new law proposals

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies will spend the two-month summer recess in their electoral districts. 

Party officials will review the Teacher Profession Law Proposal and the 9th Judicial Package, which have been postponed to October due to scheduling conflicts. Additionally, preparations for the 10th Judicial Package and a new tax package will continue until the new legislative period. 

Preparations will also be conducted on potential changes related to social security reform, which has been discussed in the context of pensioners.

CHP to organize themed rallies

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Özgür Özel has been expected to take a short break in August.

The main opposition party noted that Özel would continue to organize themed rallies and provincial visits in the meantime. CHP has already organized rallies for hazelnut and tea farmers, pensioners, and teachers.

One of the CHP's key agendas has been the statutory convention scheduled for September. Preparations for the convention and discussions on which amendments will be implemented throughout the summer. 

The new system to be established at the convention aims to enable all party members to elect provincial and district heads, preventing influential party members from dominating the election processes and steering them.

The number of members in the Party Assembly, which is currently 60, will be increased. There will also be discussions about introducing gender and youth quotas for party positions.

DEM to organize ‘bread and justice’ rallies

Pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party will also continue its work in the field throughout the summer. 

DEM Party has been expected to continue its "Bread and Justice Meetings" and work to strengthen the party organizations. It also plans to hold an “organization conference” in September.

Senior-level resignations may continue in İYİ

Navigating a turbulent period, nationalist opposition Good (İYİ) Party officials will spend the summer months visiting provinces and districts to regain the party's lost momentum. 

As discussions about potential new resignations circulated, it was rumored that high-ranking officials might also be among those stepping down.

Preparations for two party conventions

Islamist opposition Felicity Party (SP) Chair Temel Karamollaoğlu announced that he would not be a candidate again in the upcoming party convention due to health problems. The convention, which will determine the new chair of the SP, is expected to be held in November.

The right-wing opposition DEVA Party, which has already held its provincial conventions, also pointed to autumn for its general convention, possibly in September.

People’s Alliance prepares for new constitution

Shortly before the recess, Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş met with the heads of all political parties represented in the parliament and asked for procedural suggestions for the new constitution. 

These proposals are expected to be collected throughout the summer and a new process for constitution is expected to be initiated in October. If the parties respond positively to the call for a new constitution, a negotiation table is expected to be established in the new legislative period. Both the speaker’s office and AKP officials will spend the summer preparing for the new constitution.

AKP and far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has been also preparing for the amendment of the parliament's internal rules of procedure, which is considered as the “constitution of the parliament.” 

The two parties are expected to work on an amendment proposal during the summer, then discuss it with other parties and present it to the parliament.

Municipalities to embark new challenges

Recently, AKP politicians and President Erdoğan began to attack municipalities using the debts to the Social Security Institution (SGK).

The government has been expected to make further moves paving the way for the seizure of municipality assets on the grounds of debts to SGK.

At the same time, the CHP announced that it would not implement the law that requires the collection and killing of stray dogs by municipalities. According to the law, municipality employees who do not implement the law may face imprisonment.

The government has been accelerating its attacks against local administrations since it faced a huge loss in 2024 local elections.

(English version by Can Bodrumlu)

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