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Subpoenas for CHP Deputies Submitted to the Parliament

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ANKARA – A significant political development has emerged in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), as a total of 18 legislative immunity files (fezleke), or subpoenas covering 12 Members of Parliament (MPs) have been formally submitted to the Parliament Speaker’s Office. This action marks the start of the formal process to potentially strip these opposition figures of their legislative immunity.

The list of affected deputies includes the leaders of two major opposition parties:

  • Özgür Özel, Leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), who alone faces seven separate files.
  • Erkan Baş, Leader of the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP).

The motion (tezkereler) regarding the removal of legislative immunity put forth by AKP members have now been referred by the Speaker’s Office to the Joint Committee (Karma Komisyonu), which comprises members from the Constitutional and Justice Committees.

 

List of Targeted MPs

 

The 12 Members of Parliament whose files have been sent for review include:

Party Name and Position Party Role (If Applicable)
CHP Özgür Özel Party Leader
TİP Erkan Baş Party Leader
CHP Ali Mahir Başarır Group Deputy Chairman
CHP Murat Emir Group Deputy Chairman
TİP Saliha Sera Kadıgil
CHP Özgür Karabat
CHP Ümit Özlale
İYİ Party Yüksel Arslan
CHP Mustafa Adıgüzel
İYİ Party Mehmet Mustafa Gürban
CHP Ümit Dikbayır
CHP Talih Özcan

The Immunity Removal Process

 

The submission of the files to the Joint Committee initiates a multi-stage legal and political procedure governed by the TBMM’s rules:

  1. Preparatory Committee: The Joint Committee will form a Preparatory Committee to investigate the files. This committee has a maximum of one month to examine the documents and issue a report recommending whether to lift the immunity or defer prosecution.
  2. Joint Committee Decision: The full Joint Committee then has one month to conclude its debate and finalize its report.
  3. General Assembly Vote: If the committee recommends lifting immunity, the report is submitted to the General Assembly for a final vote. The earliest the files could reach the General Assembly for a potential vote is approximately two months from the start of the committee process.

This move immediately elevates political tensions in Ankara, focusing intense scrutiny on the main opposition leaders amidst an escalating political climate.

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