News

Turkey passes tough new security bill, raising fears of election crackdown

Mar 27 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Today's Zaman

The Turkish Parliament on Friday overwhelmingly passed into law a security bill to broaden police powers and allow the use of firearms against demonstrators, deepening fears of crackdowns on dissent ahead of parliamentary elections.

According to the private Doğan news agency, the bill was approved with 199 votes for and 32 against after a 16 and a half hour parliamentary session. The 132-article security package passed into law with 69 articles, as the AK Party decided not to discuss 63 articles so as not to delay the approval of the bill any further.

Overwhelming majority against presidential system, poll shows

Mar 18 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Today's Zaman

According to a recent poll by the Gezici Research and Polling Company, the overwhelming majority of people in Turkey are opposed to the presidential system of government that is being heavily promoted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Gezici -- which was subject to an extraordinary tax inspection following its findings of low approval rates for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in February -- revealed that 77.1 percent of people disapprove of the proposed presidential system, while 22.9 percent are in favor of it.

Erdoğan says switch to presidential system inevitable for Turkey

Mar 14 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Today's Zaman

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said drafting a new Turkish Constitution and a switch to a presidential system is inevitable for Turkey, reiterating his call for support for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).

“Are we ready for the presidential system? This switch is inevitable. The building of 'New Turkey' is inevitable. A new constitution and the presidential system are inevitable,” Erdoğan said while addressing a crowd during a visit to the northwestern province of Çanakkale on Saturday.

Hakan Fidan re-appointed as spy chief after withdrawal of bid for Parliament

Mar 10 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Today's Zaman

Former National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan who earlier resigned from his position to run for Parliament from the ranks of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has withdrawn his candidacy and has been appointed back to his post.
 
The withdrawal comes after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke out against Fidan's candidacy, in what was seen as a sign of friction between Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.

Former President Gül balks at candidacy in upcoming elections

Mar 10 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Today's Zaman

Former President Abdullah Gül has reportedly balked at the prospect of returning to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) as a deputy after both President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu indicated support for a possible political role in the party.

According to Hürriyet columnist Taha Akyol, who is close to Gül, the former president made it clear to his aides and close friends that he won't be seeking a seat in Parliament in the upcoming elections in June.

Presidential system not for afterlife, Erdoğan says

Mar 08 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Hürriyet Daily News

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeated that Turkey must switch from parliamentary democracy to presidential system for an "accelerated development."

"I won't be carrying it to my grave. I want it for Turkey," Erdoğan said during a public address at an inauguration ceremony in the southeastern Turkish province of Gaziantep on March 7. 

"The shroud has no pockets, so I won't be carrying the presidential system to the afterlife," he added.

Erdoğan indicates support for former President Gül’s bid for Parliament

Mar 07 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Today's Zaman

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan suggested on Friday that he would favor the possible candidacy of his predecessor, former President Abdullah Gül, for Parliament.

“The issue of his candidacy is up to Mr. Gül to decide. I had a conversation with him last night, I called him and gave my best wishes for his father, who is ill,” Erdoğan told reporters asking about Gül's possible bid for Parliament. “His decision [to run for Parliament] would be good. It would be for the best. It would be fitting. But the decision is up to him.”

Turkish court refuses to hear election threshold complaints

Mar 05 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Hürriyet Daily News

The Constitutional Court has once again refused to hear appeals to remove the 10 percent election threshold, which parties in the country need to surpass in order to win representation in parliament.

The court rejected on March 5 appeals from three minor Turkish political parties, the Democratic Left Party (DSP), the Great Union Party (BBP) and the Felicity Party (SP), citing lack of jurisdiction.

Appeals to the Court can only be made against allegedly mistaken practices or non-implementation of legislation, not directly against legislation, the court ruled.

AK Party spokesman says Gül will not run for Parliament

Feb 26 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Today's Zaman

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Spokesman Beşir Atalay said on Thursday that former president and AK Party co-founder Abdullah Gül will not be a candidate in the June elections, citing remarks Gül himself had made in the past.

Speaking at a press conference at the AK Party headquarters in Ankara, Atalay was speaking on recent political developments when he was asked if the former president would run in the general elections slated for June 7.

“He won't be a candidate according to his own remarks,” Atalay said.

Erdoğan says will preside over Cabinet meeting next month for second time

Feb 23 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Today's Zaman

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Monday that he will preside over a Cabinet meeting, traditionally chaired by the prime minister, for the second time since his election to office in August on March 9.

"I would like to inform you that I will convene the cabinet once again in the presidential palace on March 9," he said in a speech at the presidential palace in Ankara.

CHP plans to postpone convention

Jun 23 2014
Turkey
Source: 
Hürriyet Daily News

The main opposition social democrat party has considered postponing the party’s convention to the post-parliamentary election era in 2015. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), is planning to receive the approval for the postponement from the Party Assembly that will convene today. 

Don’t worry about AKP after presidential poll, Turkish PM says

Jun 22 2014
Turkey
Source: 
Hürriyet Daily News

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is proceeding on its “presidency road” without worrying about individual concerns and who will lead the party after the elections, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on June 21. 

Speaking to his party’s Istanbul provincial members, Erdoğan said the AKP would continue on its road regardless of who will lead it. 

İhsanoğlu nomination leads to cracks in CHP

Jun 18 2014
Turkey
Source: 
Hürriyet Daily News

The appointment of Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu as the joint presidential candidate of the two main opposition parties, has sparked a debate within the Republican People’s Party (CHP), and İhsanoğlu is not thought to represent the party’s authentic worldview. 

Around 15 CHP lawmakers came together yesterday under the leadership of former chairman Deniz Baykal to evaluate the appointment and to mull over how they would react to the nomination of İhsanoğlu, a former head of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). 

Kurdish parties offer presidential candidacy proposal to CHP lawmaker and former judge

Jun 18 2014
Turkey
Source: 
Hürriyet Daily News

Still searching for a candidate for the upcoming August presidential elections, the two Kurdish sister parties at the Turkish Parliament have continued the trend of political cross-dressing, by making a surprising offer to main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy and former European Court of Human Rights judge, Rıza Türmen.

MHP reshuffles Istanbul organization

Jun 18 2014
Turkey
Source: 
Hürriyet Daily News

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has replaced the administration of all of its branches in the Istanbul district, the party’s deputy chair, Şefkat Çetin, announced in a written statement on June 18.

The party has appointed new officials to its Istanbul branches.

“We thank our friends who have been relieved of their duties and wish success to our friends who replaced them,” Çetin said.

The MHP’s Istanbul branches have come under fire after the party’s poor electoral performance in the March 30 local polls.

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