CHP Chair Özgür Özel reacts to AKP's Güler over commission: 'He has overstepped his bounds'

CHP Chair Özgür Özel reacted to AKP Group Chair Abdullah Güler's statement that the commission to be established in the TBMM as part of the new resolution process, which the government calls a "Terror-Free Turkey," would conduct its work behind closed doors. Stating that "Abdullah Güler has overstepped his bounds," Özel said, "The members of this commission will decide how this commission will work at their first meeting. Who does Abdullah Güler think he is? The AK Party Group Chair cannot make a decision that the commission itself has not made." 

AKP Group Chair Abdullah Güler, who made statements regarding the commission to be established in the TBMM as part of the new resolution process the government calls a "Terror-Free Turkey," announced the names his party submitted to the Speaker of the Parliament for the commission and stated that the commission would conduct its work behind closed doors.

Güler stated, "It will be a study conducted behind closed doors, in its own private capacity. This is not an area like a specialized committee where legislative proposals are discussed. Confidential information will come to the commission, so it will be appropriate for it to work behind closed doors." CHP Chair Özgür Özel reacted to Güler's remarks. 

"THE COMMISSION WILL DECIDE ON THE CLOSED-DOOR WORK"

Responding to journalists' questions after a series of visits to the prison in the Kandıra district of Kocaeli, Özgür Özel gave the following response to the question regarding AKP Group Chair Abdullah Güler's statement that "the commission will conduct its work behind closed doors":

"I do not want to say anything bad about Abdullah Güler. He is a Group Chair, we served together. But he has overstepped his bounds. First of all: The members of this commission will decide how this commission will work at their first meeting. If they make this decision together, one must respect it.

Who does Abdullah Güler think he is? Does he hold the golden share? The Justice and Development Party sends its 21 people; if they talk among themselves and say, 'Insist on a closed session, let it be behind closed doors,' then let them talk. It will be debated there. They are making wrong calculations about the qualified majority. Friends, it does not drop to 47 or so when the IYI Party does not participate. It does not drop to 48. Because it is the absolute majority of the total number of members, the qualified majority of the total number of members. Calculations are made based on the number reported the moment the commission is established. Let us fix that deficiency as well. Some friends have debated their own qualifications in the tweets they posted.

On the other hand, let me say this much. The commission will decide how it will work. We talked about this. Abdullah Güler is doing what the Speaker of the Parliament is not doing. He is overstepping his bounds. From the very first day, he is trying to exert dominance over the commission. That is one.

Second, suppose that this commission made a decision and is working behind closed doors. Right? There is no press. Will you then say, 'It is a good thing the CHP joined,' friends? I am saying this to those who were worried yesterday. What is happening in that commission, intervening where necessary in that commission, where necessary; we were always emphasizing transparency, right? 'Let it work with good intentions, let it work transparently, let it not hide anything from anyone. Let it not upset the families of martyrs and veterans. Let it listen to everyone harmed by terrorism, let it be open to civil society.' Look, if it were up to Abdullah Güler, he would close the doors of the commission. It is a good thing the CHP is there, so we are giving this answer today. Tomorrow, we will also find the most correct method regarding informing the press in the commission... Of course, it is a commission that is sensitive. For example, the head of the MIT will come and give a presentation. Of course, we will close the doors. We will not say, 'Open this door,' nor will we go outside and tell anyone anything we hear from the MIT. But if this commission is to work behind closed doors, the commission will decide that. The AK Party Group Chair cannot make a decision that the commission has not made."

News Source: 12punto