CHP's move on Can Atalay: Extraordinary application petition submitted to Parliament

The Republican People's Party (CHP) has called for the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) to convene for an extraordinary session for the second time to discuss the status of Can Atalay, the elected Hatay MP from the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP).

The CHP parliamentary group submitted the petition calling for the TBMM to meet in an extraordinary session on September 10 to the Speaker of the Parliament.

THEY POINTED TO SEPTEMBER 10

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir, in a statement made on August 22, had said, "We are calling the Parliament to an extraordinary session again on September 10. We demand that Can Atalay's status as an MP be declared and read out again in the General Assembly."

Today, a CHP delegation submitted the application for the second extraordinary session of the TBMM regarding Can Atalay at 14:00.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

In the reasoned decision of the Constitutional Court (AYM) published in the Official Gazette on August 1, it was stated that the decision to strip Atalay of his parliamentary seat was "null and void." Following this decision, eyes turned to Parliament regarding whether or not Atalay's parliamentary rights would be restored.

Upon this development, the CHP called for an extraordinary session of Parliament to discuss Can Atalay's situation. The General Assembly convened in an extraordinary session on August 16 to address the request for a general debate.

In the session, which the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) did not attend, Justice and Development Party (AKP) İzmir MP and Administrative Chief Alpay Özalan launched a physical assault on TİP MP Ahmet Şık.

The proceedings were interrupted six times by physical violence, and DEM Party Group Deputy Chair and Kars MP Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, who was attacked, suffered a laceration to her eyebrow.