Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç on the party congress investigation: Will the investigation deepen?

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç stated that the investigation launched into the CHP congress held in November 2023 was opened following allegations of irregularities raised by party members themselves. Tunç said, "It was party members who voiced the claim that delegates' votes were bought in exchange for financial benefits. These allegations may constitute a crime under the Law on Political Parties. If the prosecutor's office finds concrete evidence, the investigation will deepen."

Noting that Kılıçdaroğlu and Akif Hamzaçebi also drew attention to rumors of impropriety, Tunç expressed that the party management's silence was being criticized. Emphasizing that allegations of fraud during the congress process have been brought to the judiciary, Tunç said, "There are those who want to give statements. Various allegations have been made on social media regarding license plates and documents. If concrete evidence is found, this will turn into a criminal investigation," he said.

Stating that the allegations of irregularities at the CHP congress came from within the party, Tunç continued as follows: 

"Gossip began after the CHP's congress in November 2023. Those who brought up these allegations were also CHP members. When an application was made in Bursa, the prosecutor's office sent the file to Ankara. The Ankara prosecutor's office launched the investigation in January. It became a major agenda item after Kılıçdaroğlu's TV program. Akif Hamzaçebi also made a statement. They criticized them for remaining silent. They said they needed to give an answer to this. It was not just Kılıçdaroğlu and Hamzaçebi, but many people who voiced it. They voiced the claim that delegates' votes were bought in exchange for financial benefits. There is legislation showing that this would constitute a crime. When allegations are made by party members, the prosecutor's office must evaluate them. If concrete evidence is obtained in the investigation, the investigation continues. After the criticism that the party management's silence was suspicious, the prosecutor's office issued a summons for them to provide their statements as well. Whether they will testify or not will be decided by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

''THIS IS A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION''

Kılıçdaroğlu's lawyer also made the necessary statement. He said that an answer must be given to the allegations of impropriety. By voicing the allegations of impropriety at the congress, he says that conducting an investigation is necessary and that the management's silence poses a problem. It is known to the public; the investigation launched into the CHP's congress is entirely based on allegations they themselves brought forward. This is an investigation launched to uncover these allegations. There are those who say they want to testify, there are allegations made on social media, down to vehicle license plates, down to what was taken from where. If there is concrete evidence, the prosecutor's office can deepen the investigation. The Law on Political Parties brings penalties for those who engage in fraud. If concrete evidence is detected, this is a criminal investigation. The process regarding the party congress requires a separate trial regarding whether it requires cancellation.

Not only Kılıçdaroğlu and Hamzaçebi, but many party members voiced rumors of impropriety. When we look at Article 112 of the Law on Political Parties, we have legislation showing that such behavior constitutes a crime. In the face of this legislation, when these allegations become widespread and a number of claims are made by party members, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office must evaluate these allegations. If concrete evidence is obtained, the investigation continues at this point and the judiciary makes its decision."

SPOKE ABOUT THE INVESTIGATIONS OPENED AGAINST İMAMOĞLU 

Evaluating the investigations opened against IMM and TBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu, Minister Tunç said the following: 

"Here, beyond the criticism of a political case, there are inappropriate expressions towards the judiciary. Mr. Özel called it a 'judicial stick.' There were words that amounted to threats against the judiciary; this is not right. Judicial power is used by independent courts on behalf of the Turkish nation; everyone is equal before the law. Everyone is equal before the law. We have Article 138 in the Constitution. It is the article stating that no one can influence the judiciary regarding an ongoing investigation. It even states that they cannot give advice or suggestions. Are there crimes as a result of the investigations? The judiciary will make its decision as a result of this. If you use threatening expressions to influence members of the judiciary regarding these cases, this would not be right. When an expression like 'mobile guillotine' is used, we cannot expect anyone to remain silent on this. The investigation regarding the YSK members, which is ongoing against him, continues. It was said that the judge looking at the case was exiled by being appointed to another province. In that case, they made a request for the recusal of the judge whose appointment came out, but when the judge was appointed, this time they said 'why did you exile him?' Let's let the judiciary do its job. The judiciary will of course make the most accurate decision. There will be objection processes for this. It is not right to use such inappropriate expressions without waiting for these processes. If you say to a member of the judiciary, 'You are corrupt,' you cannot expect the judiciary to remain silent and not take action."

''CITY CONSENSUS'' OPERATION AGAINST CHP MUNICIPALITIES

Tunç made the following evaluations regarding the "City Consensus operation" launched against CHP municipalities: 

"Here, there is an investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. There is an investigation regarding the HDK umbrella structure. There are allegations of connections with members of the terrorist organization. There are 2 deputy mayors and 7 municipal council members. It is not right to characterize the investigations here in different ways. We will all wait for the result of the investigation together. They will make their own defenses. If there is a process that turns into a lawsuit, this will be seen transparently by the public. There is currently an investigation being conducted in secret. When a detention decision is made, it is not right to say 'this is a political case' without having information about the file. It is our judges who will reveal whether there is a terrorist connection regarding those individuals."