Statement issued following claims of 'traffic fine exemption for members of parliament'
Following reports that traffic fine exemptions had been granted to current and former members of parliament, officials from the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Presidential Council have issued a statement.
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The claim that traffic fine exemptions have been granted to current and former members of parliament has caused a stir. According to the allegations, it was suggested that traffic rules such as running red lights, illegal parking, and speeding would not apply to members of parliament.
Furthermore, it was also rumored that traffic fines issued to members of parliament would be paid by the TBMM. It is alleged that this exemption is not limited to current members but has been expanded to include former members of parliament as well. This alleged situation, which concerns more than 3 thousand former members of parliament, has brought a new debate to the Assembly.
Following the reports, an official from the TBMM Presidential Council stated to Milliyet that the claims do not reflect the truth, using the following expressions:
"There is no such request that has reached the Presidential Council, nor is there any such decision. In addition to the claims that traffic fines are paid by the Assembly, the use of flashing lights (çakar) is also mentioned. A legal regulation is required for the use of flashing lights."
Another member of the Presidential Council stated that it is not possible for the TBMM Member Services unit to call a former member of parliament, and that such a conversation could only be conducted by higher-level officials.