First statement from CHP regarding the appointment of Akın Gürlek's wife to the CMB: 'Reward for a political operation'

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has appointed Elif Gülşah Gürlek, the wife of Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek—who is leading the investigation into the arrest of Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer and has drawn criticism from the CHP—as a member of the Capital Markets Board (CMB).

The first reaction from the CHP came following the decision, which was published in the Official Gazette at midnight and entered into force.

CHP Group Deputy Chair Gökhan Günaydın stated, "A summary of the country in a single sentence," and added the following:

"The wife of Akın Gürlek, who was appointed from Deputy Minister of Justice to Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor, has been appointed as a member of the Capital Markets Board. A summary of the country in a single sentence."

CHP Group Deputy Chair Ali Mahir Başarır also reacted to the appointment. Başarır made the following post regarding the appointment of Elif Gülşah Gürlek, who was a Deputy Department Head at the Ministry of Justice, to the CMB:

"The reward for the political operation carried out in Esenyurt has been given to Akın Gürlek. His wife, who was a Deputy Department Head at the Ministry of Justice, has been brought to the Capital Markets Board. This system is not one of merit, but of loyalty!"

WHAT HAPPENED?

With the presidential appointment decision published in the Official Gazette, Mahmut Sütçü was appointed as the second chairman of the Capital Markets Board, while Mutlu Akın and Elif Gülşah Gürlek were appointed as members.

WHICH DECISIONS HAD AKIN GÜRLEK SIGNED?

Gürlek, who served as presiding judge first at the Istanbul 37th High Criminal Court and later at the 14th High Criminal Court, is known as a judge who has sparked controversy in cases where opposition figures were tried. Gürlek had tried CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu on five separate charges based on her Twitter posts and sentenced her to 9 years, 8 months, and 20 days in prison.

Gürlek had also sentenced former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş to 4 years and 8 months in prison for the crime of "propagating for a terrorist organization."

Gürlek, who did not implement the Constitutional Court's (AYM) ruling on the violation of rights regarding Enis Berberoğlu, had ruled that there was no room for a retrial for Berberoğlu.

Former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu had criticized Gürlek with the words "The new Zekeriya Öz" after the AYM's Berberoğlu ruling was not implemented. Gürlek had also lost the 75 thousand TL compensation lawsuit he filed against Kılıçdaroğlu due to these remarks.

The AYM had unanimously decided that Berberoğlu's right to be elected and engage in political activity, as well as his right to personal liberty and security, had been violated.