A critical week begins in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey: Applications to start

The General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) will begin its weekly work on Tuesday, May 27.

The General Assembly will discuss the Draft Law on Amendments to Certain Laws and Decree-Law No. 660, which was prepared in line with the annulment decisions of the Constitutional Court.

According to the proposal, all business and transactions related to Hajj and Umrah travel, as well as all expenditures made from the Hajj and Umrah Account, will be audited at the end of each Hajj season by the Presidency of Religious Affairs and, when necessary, by audit personnel appointed by the Presidency.

The High Board of Religious Affairs will examine or have examined the translations of the Holy Quran upon the request of the Presidency, other public institutions, private individuals, and organizations, or on its own initiative.

It will be mandatory for those holding licenses and rights under the Mining Law and the Turkish Petroleum Law to use activated KEP (Registered Electronic Mail) for notifications; those who fail to fulfill this obligation will be subject to an administrative fine of 300 thousand liras for every 3 months they fail to comply. All assets and properties of the General Directorate of Mining and Petroleum Affairs (MAPEG) and the Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency (TENMAK) will be considered state property and cannot be seized.

COMMISSION FOR INCREASING TRAFFIC FINES

The TBMM Justice Commission will begin deliberations on the Draft Law on Amendments to the Highway Traffic Law, which also includes regulations aimed at increasing traffic fines.

According to this proposal, drivers who persistently follow another vehicle for the purpose of aggression in traffic or who get out of their vehicle for this purpose will be subject to an administrative fine of 180 thousand liras, their driver's licenses will be suspended for 60 days, and their vehicles may be banned from traffic for 30 days.

In cases where modifications to vehicles cause noise to a degree that disturbs those around, the driver will be subject to an administrative fine of 16 thousand liras.

The driver's licenses of those who cause a traffic accident by violating a red light will be suspended for 60 days. Suspended driver's licenses will be returned at the end of the suspension period, provided that it is understood through a psychotechnical evaluation that there is no obstacle to the driver obtaining a license.

Driver's licenses will be suspended for 30 days each time for those who exceed the speed limit within residential areas by 46-55 km/h, for 60 days each time for those who exceed it by 56-65 km/h, and for 90 days each time for those who exceed it by more than 66 km/h.

Drivers who do not yield to vehicles with right-of-way will be fined 15 thousand liras.

SOE COMMISSION TO CONTINUE ITS WORK

The State Economic Enterprises (SOE) Commission will continue its deliberations on the balance sheets and income statements of institutions for the years 2021 and 2022.

In its meetings this week, the Commission will address the balance sheets and income statements of the General Directorate of the State Supply Office, the General Directorate of the National Lottery Administration, Ankara Natural Electricity Generation and Trade Inc., T.H. Black Sea Copper Enterprises Inc., Doğusan Pipe Industry and Trade Inc., and Sümer Holding Inc.

The Joint Commission, consisting of members of the Petition Commission and the Human Rights Investigation Commission, will hear from representatives of administrations that have shown a high rate of negative approaches to recommendation decisions or requests for information or documents. Additionally, the Commission will present plaques to representatives of administrations that have shown a positive approach to recommendation decisions or requests for information or documents.

TBMM PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PROCESS BEGINS

A 5-day application period will begin this week for the second-term presidential election of the 28th Legislative Period, as the term of TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş is coming to an end.

The AKP TBMM Group will also hold a closed group meeting on Wednesday, May 28, under the chairmanship of Group President Abdullah Güler. The AKP Group will determine the Group President and group deputy chairmen who will serve in the second term of the 28th Legislative Period of the TBMM.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the group meetings of the political parties represented in the Parliament will be held.