Two elections at once at the Court of Cassation: Erdoğan to select the Chief Public Prosecutor

The Court of Cassation will head to the polls on Monday, May 13, to determine its new president and new Chief Public Prosecutor.

Due to the expiration of Court of Cassation President Mehmet Akarca's 4-year term, the Court of Cassation's Grand General Assembly has been conducting presidential elections since March 25.

In the elections held to determine the new president who will serve for four years, Court of Cassation President Akarca, 3rd Civil Chamber President Ömer Kerkez, and 3rd Criminal Chamber President Muhsin Şentürk competed. So far, no candidate has been able to secure an absolute majority in the elections.

MUHSİN ŞENTÜRK WITHDRAWS FROM CANDIDACY

Meanwhile, the election process for the position of Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation, to replace Bekir Şahin whose term expires next month, also begins on Monday, May 13.

Muhsin Şentürk, who was a candidate for the presidency of the Court of Cassation, announced that he has withdrawn his candidacy for the first presidency. In a message sent to the members, Şentürk stated, "I am withdrawing from my candidacy for the first presidency in order to resolve the deadlock that has occurred in the process and to protect the institutional reputation of our Court of Cassation," and announced his candidacy for the Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation.

ERDOĞAN WILL SELECT THE CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

The Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation is selected by the President from among the candidates nominated by the Court of Cassation's Grand General Assembly from within its own members.

The five members who receive the most votes in the first round of voting are considered nominated. If the number of those who received votes in the first round is less than five, the missing candidates are completed through subsequent rounds of voting held on the same day.

The names of the five candidates determined in this way will be presented to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in a ranked list. Erdoğan will select one of the candidates as the Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation within 15 days.

The President can select any one of the five candidates presented as the Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation, regardless of the ranking or the number of votes they received.

The newly elected Chief Public Prosecutor will serve for 4 years, provided they do not retire due to the age limit.