Summaries for Özgür Özel and two CHP deputies are in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey

The immunity process for three CHP figures has officially begun in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The Presidential motions regarding the lifting of the legislative immunity of Özgür Özel, Murat Emir, and Yunus Emre reached the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on February 17, 2026.

The Speaker of the Assembly referred the motions in question to the Joint Committee, which consists of members of the Constitutional and Justice Committees.

HOW DOES THE PROCESS OF LIFTING DEPUTY IMMUNITY WORK?

The Chairman of the Joint Committee forms a 5-member Preparatory Committee by drawing lots from among the members notified by political parties to examine the immunity files. The committee elects a chairman and a clerk member who will also serve as a spokesperson by secret ballot.

The Preparatory Committee completes its examination of the file and prepares a report within at most one month from the date of its establishment. The committee examines the documents in the file; it may hear the relevant deputy if it deems it necessary, but it does not have the authority to hear witnesses.

If the Preparatory Committee expresses an opinion in favor of lifting immunity, the file comes to the agenda of the Joint Committee. The Joint Committee also discusses the report and its annexes within one month and makes a decision.

The committee may recommend lifting immunity or postponing prosecution until the end of the deputy's term. If a decision is made to postpone, the report is read in the General Assembly. If this report is not objected to within 10 days, the decision becomes final. If it is objected to, the file is taken to the General Assembly agenda.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECIDES

Joint Committee reports regarding the lifting of immunity are moved directly to the General Assembly agenda. If the General Assembly accepts the report, the relevant deputy's immunity is lifted; if it rejects it, the trial can be postponed until the end of the legislative term.

During the General Assembly debates, two deputies take the floor on the report, one in favor and one against. The deputy who is the subject of the summary can make a defense in the Preparatory Committee, the Joint Committee, or the General Assembly if they wish, or they can grant the right of defense to another deputy.

Votes are generally held by open ballot. The quorum for the immunity vote is applied as 151. A separate vote is held for each deputy and each summary. Immunity is lifted only for the file in question, and the trial is conducted only within the scope of that file.

Following the General Assembly's decision, the Speaker of the Assembly forwards the file to the Ministry of Justice via the Presidency. The Ministry then sends the file to the relevant prosecutor's office. Upon receiving the file, the prosecutor's office can continue the investigation from where it left off; it can evaluate options such as referral to the court with a request for arrest or trial without arrest.

RIGHT TO APPLY TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

The lifting of immunity does not mean the loss of deputy status. The status of deputy continues; salary and other social rights are protected. If the deputy is not under arrest, they can participate in the work of the Assembly.

The loss of deputy status can come to the agenda with the finalization of the sentence and the reading of the decision in the General Assembly. 

News Source: 12punto