Execution Package on Parliament's agenda: 'No-surprise' conditional support from the opposition

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) is entering an intensive work period for the legislative proposal that envisions changes to the Law on the Execution of Sentences, known publicly as the "Execution Package." The proposal, expected to consist of 30 articles in total, is planned to include the release of sick and elderly prisoners and the inclusion of certain "non-violent" terror-related crimes within the scope of Covid-19 releases.

In the briefing meetings held by the AKP Parliamentary Group with the deputy group chairmen of the opposition parties, it is stated that a consensus has been reached on enacting the proposal before the holiday. However, opposition parties, particularly the CHP, state that they will provide support on the condition that there are no "surprise" articles in the final version of the proposal. CHP officials express their view by saying, "We will not say no to the proposal as it has been explained to us and reflected in the public, but if we encounter a surprise, we will withdraw our support."

The legislative proposal is aimed to be submitted to the Speaker of the Parliament on Monday, May 26, and to be enacted before the Parliamentary Speaker election to be held on June 3. In this direction, it is planned for the Parliament to work on Friday and over the weekend as well.

Among the prominent regulations of the Execution Package are the following:

• Release of sick and elderly convicts,
  
  

• Inclusion of certain "non-violent" terror-related crimes that do not require high penalties within the scope of release,
  
  

• Conditional release of those who have entered prison for committing the same crime for the second time,
  
  

• The repeal or reduction of the sentence duration for the regulation annulled by the High Court, which states, "A person who commits a crime on behalf of an organization without being a member of the organization shall also be punished with imprisonment from two years and six months to six years."

The Execution Package, which is planned to be enacted with the support of all political parties in Parliament, is expected to be an important step, especially regarding the release of sick and elderly prisoners.