Tuncer Bakırhan speaks at group meeting: Call for an end to trustees and for political ethics

DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan delivered important messages at the group meeting held in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). Starting his remarks by emphasizing that Turkey is passing through a critical juncture, Bakırhan criticized the trustee practices on the political agenda.

Bakırhan stated, "Turkey is experiencing the most precious period of its history. Before us, Mr. Bahçeli said exactly these words from this very podium: 'There is no need to stall or be stalled regarding the steps anymore.' Yes, we agree. There is no need to stall or be stalled. Yesterday, the President said the same things. So, who are they saying these things to?"

Bakırhan expressed that government officials are sending messages among themselves and prolonging the process with ambiguous statements, saying, "Who is being stalled, who is stalling, what is the address, who will take the step? Therefore, those who manage this process must hurry and take the steps to be taken regarding the solution of this issue immediately."

Stating that the decisions of institutions can be implemented immediately, Bakırhan said, "Without the need for any legal preparation, ECHR and Constitutional Court decisions can be implemented. Trustees can be removed. The law of peace begins not with words, but the moment words are bound by law. If steps are taken together, trust is built."

POLITICAL ETHICS LAW

While Bakırhan alleged that the government uses the judiciary and legal system to suppress the opposition, he pointed to the importance of an equal and fair legal order. He reacted to the current system with the words, "The government has turned legal and judicial mechanisms into a tool to besiege the opposition. Someone will come out and say, 'there are corruption allegations, there is immorality.' Yes, we have never closed our eyes to allegations, but the law in Turkey is being bent and twisted. There cannot be one law for the government and another for the opposition."

Stating that the DEM Party is in favor of transparency, Bakırhan said that corruption allegations should be investigated at all levels and that accountability should be ensured on every platform, especially in local governments. Furthermore, he expressed the need for a political ethics law as follows: "This ethics law can no longer be postponed. The political ethics law must sever the ties between politics and financial dealings."

Touching upon the privileges of elected officials, Bakırhan argued that all privileges outside of politics should be abolished. "All privileges of elected officials outside of political activity should be removed. Come on, I challenge you, the DEM Party is ready for this. We promise in your presence. Go ahead, let's grab the collar of whoever is stealing," he said, inviting all parties to cooperate on transparency as a party.

Bakırhan also expressed that the recent operations against CHP-run municipalities are perceived by the public not as an effort to fight corruption, but as an attempt at political liquidation.

News Source: 12punto