Major absenteeism from opposition at TBMM's Can Atalay session: How many deputies did not attend?

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) convened in an extraordinary session to discuss the status of Can Atalay, a prisoner in the Gezi Park trial who was elected as a Hatay deputy from the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) in the May 14 elections, but whose parliamentary status was revoked and who remains in prison despite a Constitutional Court (AYM) ruling.

BLOOD SPILLED IN THE TBMM

A brawl broke out during the Can Atalay session held yesterday (August 16).

AKP deputy Alpay Özalan attacked TİP Istanbul deputy Ahmet Şık while he was speaking at the podium. 

During the scuffle in the Assembly, CHP deputy Okan Konuralp and DEM Party Group Deputy Chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit sustained cuts to their eyebrows.

NUMAN KURTULMUŞ PRESIDED OVER THE SESSION

While the Can Atalay session was adjourned 5 times, TBMM Deputy Speaker Bekir Bozdağ, who was presiding over the General Assembly, announced that TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş had invited the group deputy chairs to a meeting. 

CENSURE PENALTY FOR ŞIK AND ÖZALAN

Kurtulmuş, who began presiding over the General Assembly, proposed that a censure penalty be issued for Ahmet Şık and Alpay Özalan. The proposal to issue a censure penalty to Şık and Özalan was accepted.

REJECTED BY MAJORITY VOTE

In the final session held after the tumultuous meetings, the opposition's request for a general debate regarding Can Atalay was rejected by a majority vote.

HOW MANY DEPUTIES DID NOT ATTEND THE CAN ATALAY SESSION?

On the other hand, it has been revealed how many deputies from the ruling party and the opposition attended the Can Atalay session at the TBMM.

MHP, DSP, AND HÜDA-PAR DID NOT ATTEND

The MHP had previously announced that it would not attend the Can Atalay meeting.

HÜDA-PAR and DSP, partners of the People's Alliance, also did not take part in the session.

While 244 deputies from the AKP voted against the motion, 22 deputies did not attend. In the ruling camp, 80 deputies were not present at the Can Atalay meeting.

71 ABSENT FROM THE OPPOSITION

It was learned that 71 deputies from the opposition front did not attend the meeting.

14 deputies from the CHP, which cast 113 votes in favor; 8 deputies from the DEM Party, which cast 49 votes in favor; 15 deputies from the IYI Party, which cast 17 votes in favor; 13 deputies from the Felicity Party (Saadet Partisi), which cast 7 votes in favor; and 10 deputies from the DEVA Party, which cast 5 votes in favor, did not attend the Can Atalay meeting at the TBMM.

News Source: 12punto