Positive response had come from the government: Demand for live broadcasts on TRT moves to Parliament

The CHP is bringing its long-standing demand that “hearings be broadcast live on TRT,” which has been at the center of political debates, back to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey today. The party will submit a motion to have the legislative proposal, which would allow trials involving elected public officials to be broadcast live on TRT, discussed in the General Assembly.

LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL HAS BEEN WAITING IN COMMITTEE FOR 9 MONTHS

It is stated that the proposal, submitted in May with the signatures of the CHP's three group deputy chairmen, has been held in committee for approximately nine months. With today's motion, they will request that the regulation be brought directly to the General Assembly. If the motion is accepted, the proposal can begin to be debated in the General Assembly.

TRIAL PROCESSES WILL BE MONITORED TRANSPARENTLY

The proposal aims to allow open hearings during the prosecution phase of criminal trials conducted against elected public officials to be broadcast live on TRT and other television channels that wish to do so.

Accordingly, for the broadcast to take place, the consent of the defendant, the victim, and those harmed by the crime must be obtained, and the relevant court must issue a decision stating that 'the broadcast is permissible.'

SPECIAL EXCEPTION CREATED IN LAWS

Within the scope of the regulation, it is envisaged to introduce an exception to Articles 182, regarding the openness of hearings, and 183, which regulates the taking of images, of the Criminal Procedure Code. Furthermore, by adding an additional provision to the TRT Law, it is aimed that hearings permitted by the court can be broadcast on one of TRT's national channels free of charge and without requiring permission from any other authority.

The technical details of the broadcast will be determined by a protocol to be prepared between the Ministry of Justice and TRT.

MESSAGE FROM CHP: “LET THE TRUTH BE SPOKEN BEFORE THE EYES OF THE NATION”

The CHP leadership and Chairman Özgür Özel had repeatedly called for “hearings to be broadcast live,” especially during the trial processes opened against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

CHP Group Deputy Chairmen argued that one should not rely on backstage information and one-sided accounts in the trials of elected public officials, delivering the message: “If the person elected by the nation is being tried, the nation should be able to watch it directly.”

It is stated that the proposal aims to create a permanent framework not only for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality files but for all elected public officials at both central and local levels.

MHP AND THE GOVERNMENT'S STANCE A MATTER OF CURIOSITY

All eyes will be on the MHP benches during today's vote. MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, in his previous statements, had pointed to the trials in Istanbul and said, “The trial must be broadcast live on all television channels, starting with TRT.”

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç, on the other hand, responded to questions on the subject by recalling the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code regarding the ban on recording images and stated that a possible change is at the discretion of Parliament.

THE MOTION TO BE VOTED ON IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT

If the motion submitted by the CHP today is accepted in the General Assembly, the proposal titled “Live Broadcasting of Open Hearings During the Prosecution Phase in Trials Conducted Against Those Holding Elected Public Office on TRT” will be taken directly onto the General Assembly agenda and debates can begin.

News Source: 12punto