CHP reports highlight IMM operation and party convention processes

The CHP has published two separate reports regarding the recently debated lawsuits concerning party convention and congress processes, as well as the large-scale investigation launched into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) on March 19. In these documents, totaling 30 pages, it was stated that judicial bodies have exceeded their traditional functions to become determinants of the political process, and that the right to democratic representation is at risk.

The reports emphasized that the lawsuits regarding the cancellation of party conventions and criminal investigations bear similarities to initiatives referred to in political terminology as "de-election." The questioning of party administrations, which came to power through the free will of delegates, via court decisions was defined as a clear neutralization of voter will. The report stated, "Judicial decisions have been removed from being a complement to the democratic process and have become a decisive tool of political competition."

It was argued that the March 19 operation against the IMM was carried out for political purposes rather than being an independent criminal proceeding. The report noted that the operation went beyond a criminal investigation and caused serious damage to democratic processes. It was stated that the central government is seeking to obtain the Istanbul administration, which it lost in the local elections, by bypassing the ballot box results and using the judiciary.

The indictment prepared against IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, which demands a total prison sentence of 828 to 2,352 years for 142 different acts, was evaluated as a disproportionate process intended to "politically intimidate." It was stated that this situation targets not only individuals but also the electoral choices of millions of Istanbul residents.

The reports specifically pointed to the disproportionate nature of detention and imprisonment practices, noting, "Arrest has ceased to be an exceptional measure and has turned into a preemptive punishment." It was emphasized that the perception of guilt created in the media, the restriction of the right to defense, and long detention processes are contrary to both the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. Attention was drawn to the fact that the demands for health and the right to a fair trial during the detention process of Beylikdüzü Mayor Murat Çalık were ignored and that the practice was far from proportional.

It was conveyed that long detention processes negatively affect not only the mayors but also their families, and that situations where children are separated from their parents can have serious social and psychological consequences. It was argued that family members suffer grievances despite there being no criminal accusations against them, and that this is contrary to constitutional rights.

The conclusion of both reports strongly suggests that judicial processes are being instrumentalized to transform the political sphere and that the ongoing lawsuits aim to erode the will expressed at the ballot box. A warning was issued that if the judiciary is used in this way, not only the current political actors but also the legitimacy of future elections will be questioned. The CHP emphasized that it considers adherence to universal legal principles, the presumption of innocence, and the principle of proportionality as essential for the protection of democratic representation and local government autonomy. Otherwise, it was stated, the principle of a democratic state of law in Turkey could be permanently damaged.

News Source: 12punto