Shock for Özgür Özel from the Butlan CHP: All eyes on Parliament...

The number of summaries of proceedings prepared against YENİ Party Chairman Özgür Özel with the request to lift his immunity has risen to 62. While there is curiosity about how the process will proceed in Parliament, the party leadership is of the opinion that lifting the immunity will not be easy.

According to the report by the pro-government Türkiye Gazetesi, it was conveyed that YENİ Party staff members assessed that, “Özgür Özel’s immunity will not be lifted. It is not easy, they would not dare.” In contrast, it is stated that there is a strong tendency within CHP lobbies that parliamentary immunity should no longer be a broad area of protection.

According to CHP sources, it is argued within the party that immunity should be limited only to parliamentary privilege, which guarantees the words and activities of deputies on the floor of the Assembly. Staff members expressing this view state that immunity should not provide deputies with a privileged legal sphere.

It was noted that CHP staff members made the assessment, “Being a deputy does not give anyone the freedom to commit crimes. Everyone should be accountable.” The same sources argue that the summaries of proceedings accumulated in Parliament should be brought to the agenda without delay.

The report drew attention to the CHP's current 45 deputies and claimed that if the summaries regarding Özel were to come to the General Assembly agenda, a significant portion of CHP deputies could vote in favor of lifting the immunity.

Butlan administration sources made the assessment, "There is a high tendency within the party toward lifting immunities. If the summaries regarding Özgür Özel come to the General Assembly, the vast majority of our deputies will vote 'yes'."

News Source: 12punto