CHP makes move for second Can Atalay session

Following the tumultuous Can Atalay session in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), the Republican People's Party (CHP) had submitted an application for the Parliament to convene for an extraordinary session for the second time regarding Can Atalay.

CHP Group Deputy Chairs Ali Mahir Başarır and Murat Emir met with Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş regarding Gezi prisoner Can Atalay.

During the meeting at 15:00, the CHP's second extraordinary session application regarding Can Atalay, who was elected as a Hatay MP from the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) but whose parliamentary status was revoked, was discussed.

Whether the Parliament will convene for an extraordinary session again for the Can Atalay decision has become a matter of curiosity.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Can Atalay received an 18-year prison sentence in the Gezi Park trial on April 25, 2022.

Atalay was elected as a Hatay MP from TİP in the general elections held on May 14, 2023.

The prison sentence given to Atalay was upheld by the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation on September 28, 2023.

The Constitutional Court (AYM), however, ruled on October 25, 2023, that Atalay's rights had been violated due to his election as an MP. The High Court ruled for the suspension of the trial, the recognition of his parliamentary status, and the release of Atalay.

The Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court did not implement this decision and sent it to the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation.

On November 8, 2023, the Chamber announced that it would not comply with the decision on the grounds that the AYM could not issue such a ruling by acting like a super-appellate court, and filed a criminal complaint against the members of the AYM.

Upon this, the AYM reminded of constitutional obligations and issued a second rights violation ruling on December 21, 2023.

The 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation then issued a decision on January 3 stating that this ruling was null and void.

With the reading of the Court of Cassation's decision at the TBMM General Assembly on January 30, Atalay's parliamentary status was revoked.

In addition to Atalay's lawyers, TİP, CHP, and the DEM Party applied to the AYM for the cancellation of this decision.

In its reasoned decision announced on February 22 and published in the Official Gazette on August 1, the AYM noted that the revocation of Can Atalay's parliamentary status was "null and void."

After the decision, all eyes turned to the TBMM.

FIRST SESSION HELD ON AUGUST 16

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) convened on August 16 for Can Atalay, a Hatay MP from the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), regarding whom the Constitutional Court (AYM) had issued a "null and void" ruling concerning the revocation of his parliamentary status.

During the Can Atalay session, which was marked by incidents, AKP MP Alpay Özalan attacked TİP Istanbul MP Ahmet Şık. While the session was adjourned 5 times, CHP's Okan Konuralp and DEM Party Group Deputy Chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit sustained cuts to their foreheads during the scuffle.

SEPTEMBER 10 HAD BEEN SIGNALED

Following the bloody session in the TBMM, the CHP group had submitted a petition to the Speaker of Parliament calling for an extraordinary session of Parliament on September 10.

CHP Group Deputy Chair Murat Emir, in a statement on August 22, said, "We are calling Parliament to an extraordinary session again on September 10. We demand that it be announced and read in the General Assembly once again that Can Atalay is an MP."

News Source: 12punto