CHP files application with Constitutional Court for annulment of certain provisions in two laws

ANKARA (AA) - The CHP has applied to the Constitutional Court (AYM) with a request for the annulment and stay of execution of certain provisions in Law No. 7511, the "Law on Amendments to the Turkish Commercial Code and Certain Other Laws," and Law No. 7512, the "Law on the Foundation for Strengthening the Foreign Ministry Organization."

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın made statements to members of the press in front of the Constitutional Court, where he arrived to file the application.

Recalling that the regulations containing certain amendments to the Turkish Commercial Code were published in the Official Gazette on May 29, Günaydın noted that these regulations also included granting the Competition Authority the power to regulate the personal rights of its staff.

Stating that this could only be done through the Civil Servants Law, Günaydın pointed out that the institution does not have the authority to regulate the personnel affairs of its staff.

Stating that they also brought the regulation regarding the Competition Authority granting firms the right to an initial defense without sufficient time to the Constitutional Court, Günaydın said, "Granting the administration the discretionary power and open authority to determine the procedures and principles for the collateral to be taken and the guarantee fund to be established in Product and Specialized Exchanges, without specifying a legal criterion, is again unconstitutional."

REQUEST FOR ANNULMENT OF THE LAW ON THE FOUNDATION FOR STRENGTHENING THE FOREIGN MINISTRY ORGANIZATION

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın reported that the Foundation for Strengthening the Foreign Ministry Organization, established by the Law on the Foundation for Strengthening the Foreign Ministry Organization published in the Official Gazette on June 6, is a private legal entity.

Saying that the board of trustees of this foundation is granted unlimited and undefined personal rights, Günaydın also stated that the board of trustees is authorized over all movable and immovable property owned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Gökhan Günaydın also claimed that the Foundation is in a position to establish universities contrary to the Higher Education Law, adding, "It is in a position to take for itself the income it obtains from visa brokerage services, which should be public. Tax exemption is granted to them in a way that exceeds the public interest. Retirement and old-age pensions are also not collected from them, contrary to regulations regarding social security. Therefore, there is no acceptable side to these two issues for us, and we are taking them to the Constitutional Court."

"A 15-DAY VACATION IS ENOUGH FOR PARLIAMENT"

Making evaluations regarding the working order of Parliament, Günaydın stated that discussions on many legal regulations are planned to be held in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) General Assembly next week.

Stating that the Republican People's Party group will continue to provide all kinds of contributions to urgent regulations that are in the interest of Turkey, Günaydın said, "A 15-day vacation is enough for Parliament. Therefore, I am calling out to the AKP group from here: be ready to work in August and September. These regulations can only be negotiated in that 2.5-month time frame."

Recalling that the Draft Law on Amendments to Tax Laws and Certain Other Laws was discussed in the TBMM Planning and Budget Committee until this morning, Günaydın reminded that the regulation, which was previously annulled by the Constitutional Court and allowed civil servants who are members of a union to receive collective bargaining bonuses, was also accepted in this meeting. Gökhan Günaydın said, "They are saying, 'If you are a member of a pro-government union, you will receive more collective bargaining bonuses.' This is clearly a regulation that is contrary to the freedom of organization and strengthens pro-government unions."

Following his statements, Günaydın submitted the application petition to the Constitutional Court.