Quorum rule in the Turkish Parliament to change: Salary deductions on the agenda

It has been claimed that new rules regarding the "quorum check" (yoklama) practice will be introduced as part of the work carried out by the AKP to amend the Turkish Parliament's Rules of Procedure. According to the regulation, it is planned to increase the number of deputies required to request a quorum check and to impose new obligations on the deputies who make such a request.

According to a report by the Türkiye newspaper; it is stated that the draft study containing amendments to the Turkish Parliament's Rules of Procedure has been completed and new regulations regarding "quorum check requests" have been prepared.

The number of deputies required for a quorum check request will be increased from 20 to 30. Furthermore, it will be mandatory for the 30 deputies requesting the quorum check to be present in the General Assembly throughout the duration of the check.

According to the new regulation, deputies who request a quorum check will not be able to leave the General Assembly hall until the check is completed. It is planned to implement salary deductions for deputies who leave the hall during this period.

On the other hand, it was stated that the current practice regarding the meeting quorum will be maintained. Accordingly, if it is determined as a result of the quorum check that at least 200 deputies are not present in the General Assembly, the session may be postponed, and if the quorum cannot be reached, the meeting will be adjourned.

In the current Rules of Procedure, a process that can lead to the loss of membership is initiated for deputies who do not attend 5 meetings within a month. Additionally, a three-month salary deduction is stipulated in cases of absenteeism exceeding 45 meetings within a legislative year.