Numan Kurtulmuş on CHP: 'The summary of proceedings issue opens the door to a completely different political game'

Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş has made critical statements regarding the "absolute nullity" crisis shaking the main opposition party, the CHP, and the subsequent request for immunity summaries of proceedings (fezleke) against Özgür Özel and 5 CHP deputies. Emphasizing that Parliament will maintain its neutrality in the face of the ongoing leadership and judicial crisis, Kurtulmuş drew attention with his remarks on the summaries of proceedings: "The summary of proceedings issue opens the door to a completely different political game. The process has not yet reached that point."

Responding to questions from journalist Aytunç Erkin, with his assessments reported in his column in Nefes newspaper, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş stated that they are closely following the process that began with the court's cancellation of the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress, but that they will not allow Parliament to be used as a tool in this internal conflict.

"THEY WANT TO MAKE GROUP MEETINGS A TOOL FOR INTRA-PARTY CONFLICT"

Referring to the "Özgür Özel - Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu" podium crisis expected to take place in the parliamentary group today following the legal processes, Kurtulmuş criticized the parties' efforts to use the parliamentary floor:

"From the very first moment, I have insistently said, 'This matter does not concern the Office of the Parliament Speaker. This is an internal matter of a political party; we are not a party to it, we cannot be, and there is no responsibility given to us that would allow us to be a party.' However, unfortunately, as far as I can see, the parties want to gain ground over this issue and turn group meetings into a tool for intra-party conflict. Let the Office of the Parliament Speaker stand at a neutral point, as required by its position and definition."

"THE COURT OF CASSATION MUST DECIDE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THE WILL OF THE DELEGATES MUST BE RE-ESTABLISHED"

Reminding that all eyes are on the Court of Cassation (Yargıtay) following the decision of the 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice to cancel the congress, Kurtulmuş summarized the steps that need to be taken in terms of political parties law with the following words:

"There is great benefit in the Court of Cassation clarifying the issue regarding this court decision as soon as possible, so that a debate is eliminated."

"If the processes within the party need to be resolved in terms of the CHP's dynamics, it is important in terms of political parties law for the CHP to re-establish the will of the delegates within a certain timeframe and to hold the congress at an appropriate time as soon as possible."

"THE SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS ISSUE OPENS THE DOOR TO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT POLITICAL GAME"

Kurtulmuş also maintained a cautious stance regarding the evaluation of the files sent to Ankara, which include the request for the preparation of immunity summaries of proceedings against Özgür Özel and 5 CHP deputies in line with the grounds for the cancellation of the congress (corruption of the delegates' will, allegations of financial gain):

"There are currently a large number of summaries of proceedings in Parliament. Naturally, none of these are being brought to the agenda. In other words, the summary of proceedings issue opens the door to a completely different political game. Therefore, let's see. The process has not yet reached that point."

In Ankara political circles, it is being discussed that with these statements, Kurtulmuş is both sending a message to the judiciary not to "prolong the process and deepen the crisis" and clarifying that, as the Office of the Parliament Speaker, they will not make a legal intervention into the image of dual-headedness in the main opposition.

News Source: 12punto