Ten Parliamentary Immunity Files Submitted to Turkish Parliament, Including CHP Leader Özgür Özel
ozgur ozel tbmm
The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) has received a total of 14 parliamentary immunity files concerning 10 lawmakers from different political parties, including Özgür Özel, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
The motions, submitted by the Presidency, seek the lifting of legislative immunity and have been formally transmitted to the relevant parliamentary bodies in order to initiate the legal review process.
Files Referred to Joint Committee
The Presidency’s motions requesting the removal of parliamentary immunity were forwarded by the Speaker of Parliament to the Joint Committee, composed of members from the Constitution and Justice Committees.
The committee will now examine the files and decide whether judicial proceedings against the lawmakers should be allowed to move forward.
Party Leaders and Parliamentary Whips Included
The most prominent name on the list is CHP leader Özgür Özel, who faces four separate immunity files — the highest number among those named.
Other lawmakers included in the submissions are senior figures from the CHP and the İYİ Party leaderships. The full list is as follows:
Republican People’s Party (CHP):
CHP leader Özgür Özel (4 files), Deputy Parliamentary Group Chair Ali Mahir Başarır, Istanbul MP Özgür Karabat, Aydın MP Süleyman Bülbül, and Ordu MP Seyit Torun.
İYİ Party:
Deputy Group Chair Turhan Çömez and Kocaeli MP Lütfü Türkkan (2 files).
People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party):
Hakkari MP Vezir Coşkun Parlak and Istanbul MP Özgül Saki.
Workers’ Party of Türkiye (TİP):
Istanbul MP Ahmet Şık.
Özel Tops the List in File Count
Of the 14 immunity files submitted to parliament, four are linked to CHP leader Özgür Özel, while İYİ Party lawmaker Lütfü Türkkan follows with two files. All other MPs face a single case each.
Political Context and Implications
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appears determined to enter the next election after neutralising rivals who currently lead him in opinion polls — namely Ekrem İmamoğlu and Mansur Yavaş.
If, following Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mansur Yavaş — who reportedly faces two ongoing cases — is also removed from office as mayor of Ankara and handed a political ban, Özgür Özel would remain Erdoğan’s sole serious challenger.
In that scenario, the lifting of Özel’s parliamentary immunity could become an option to bar him from politics as well, should he gain traction against Erdoğan in the polls.
Turkish press, PA Turkey staff
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