Turkish Parliament to resume work on October 1: What is on the agenda?

The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) will begin its new legislative year on October 1. Following the opening speech by Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will address the General Assembly.

In the new legislative year, the Parliament's agenda includes controversial legal regulations left over from the previous session. While the 9th Judicial Package, which was approved in committee but not brought to the General Assembly, is expected to be prioritized, it is also noted that the government is preparing a new judicial package. It is reported that the new judicial package will include an "execution regulation" and the "influence agent" provision, which was removed from the 9th Judicial Package due to backlash.

NEW CONSTITUTIONAL EFFORTS

One of the most important agenda items of the new term will be a new constitution. Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş visited political parties in the Parliament last term regarding the new constitution. Kurtulmuş will resume his party tours after October 1 to discuss the procedures and principles of the new constitution. President Erdoğan had also pointed to the new legislative year of the Parliament for the new constitution.

NEW ECONOMIC BILL

The economy will be the most important agenda item in the new term of the Parliament. A new bill containing economic regulations is expected to be submitted to the parliamentary agenda in the first week of October. It is stated that the proposal will include new measures to combat the informal economy.

PREPARATIONS FOR REGULATION ON UNLICENSED WEAPONS

It is stated that a regulation regarding the recent increase in individual armament and unlicensed weapons will also be submitted to the Parliament in the new legislative term. The proposal envisages increasing penalties for unlicensed weapons and introducing heavy penalties for those who manufacture weapons by collecting and assembling weapon parts separately, or for those who carry such parts.

COMPETITION BILL

Bringing a competition bill that will regulate digital platforms to the TBMM agenda is also on the table. With the regulation, which aims to reduce digital tax losses, it is intended to prevent companies such as Amazon, Facebook, X, and Starlink from controlling the market. The proposal for amendments to the Law on the Protection of Consumers, which was discussed in committee last term, will begin to be debated in the new term.

INFLUENCE AGENT PROVISION MAY BE INCLUDED IN THE NEW JUDICIAL PACKAGE

It is noted that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will announce the Judicial Reform Strategy Document in the first week of October, and that the government will be preparing a new judicial package, which is why topics such as "execution regulation" and "influence agent" will be included in the new judicial package.

It is stated that work is underway on an execution reduction regulation that would exclude drug-related crimes, violence against women and children, abuse, and terrorism offenses.

COMMISSION TO BE ESTABLISHED FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE

It is stated that a research commission will be established in the new term regarding child crimes and the prevention of child abuse.

TEACHING PROFESSION LAW BILL

The Teaching Profession Law bill, which caused a major backlash from educators in the previous legislative year, will also be one of the important agenda items of this term. The bill, whose discussions were postponed due to the reactions, is expected to be addressed after the Parliament opens. The first 22-article section of the Teaching Profession Law Bill was voted on and accepted in the General Assembly, but the discussions on the bill were later postponed to the new legislative year. The Teaching Profession Law Bill is expected to be discussed as a priority, despite opposition from education unions, which argue that it threatens teachers' job security through the Education Academies to be established, weakens their personal rights, and does not contain any regulations regarding their basic economic and social rights, wages, and working conditions, especially regarding base salary regulations.

BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS

One of the important agenda items of the TBMM will be the 2025 budget. The budget is expected to be submitted to the TBMM in mid-October and discussed in the TBMM Planning and Budget Committee in November. The budget will be discussed and enacted in the TBMM General Assembly by December 31.

MERGER OF DEVA AND GELEC PARTIES ON THE AGENDA

The formation of a parliamentary group by the Gelecek Party, which currently has a group with the Saadet Party, and the DEVA Party is on the agenda. According to information obtained, the Saadet Party also views the idea of forming a group positively. If the DEVA and Gelecek parties form a group in Parliament, the DEVA Party will also have a say in the General Assembly this term.

EMERGENCY BUTTON IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

During the budget negotiations in the TBMM General Assembly last term, Saadet Party Kocaeli Deputy Hasan Bitmez fell ill and collapsed; he received initial intervention from deputy healthcare professionals, was taken to the hospital, but could not be saved. An emergency button has been installed in the Presidential Council section to speed up medical interventions for deputies who fall ill in the General Assembly. With the button to be used by the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, medical teams will be able to enter and intervene. Various measures regarding the fights and arguments experienced in the TBMM will also be implemented this term. In order to prevent physical fights that may occur in the General Assembly, the sharp corners on the steps leading down to the podium have been rounded off.

News Source: 12punto