A total of 1,096 immunity files concerning approximately 150 deputies are awaiting processing in the Joint Committee, which consists of members of the TBMM Constitutional and Justice Committees. While it is stated that 692 of these files were transferred from the previous legislative term, the scope of parliamentary immunity has once again come to the agenda.
1,096 IMMUNITY FILES PENDING IN PARLIAMENT
Recent corruption and bribery investigations have brought discussions regarding parliamentary immunity to the forefront.
According to the report by Gamze Erdoğan from Türkiye newspaper, MHP Deputy Chairman Mustafa Kalaycı proposed that corruption and bribery crimes be excluded from the scope of immunity.
MHP CALLS FOR A POLITICAL ETHICS LAW
Speaking during the 2027 budget negotiations for the Ministry of Justice in the TBMM Planning and Budget Committee, Kalaycı stated that the MHP views the fight against corruption as a national policy.
Stating that the allegations emerging in fund investigations have shaken trust in state institutions, Kalaycı said that ethical rules in politics must be established and a Political Ethics Law must be enacted.
PROPOSAL FOR AUDITING ELECTION EXPENDITURES
Touching upon ensuring transparency in political financing, Kalaycı requested that legal regulations be made to ensure that political parties and candidates declare their election expenditures and that these expenditures be audited.
CORRUPTION AND BRIBERY SHOULD BE OUTSIDE OF IMMUNITY
Stating that parliamentary immunity should be tied to reasonable principles that do not restrict political freedoms but are accepted by the public conscience, Kalaycı used the following expressions:
“Legislative immunity should be tied to reasonable principles that the public conscience will accept without restricting the sphere of political freedom; in particular, corruption and bribery crimes should be removed from the scope of immunity,” he said.
News Source: 12punto
