AKP holds conference on the eve of key corruption vote

Nuray Babacan ANKARA

Hürriyet Photo

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has begun holding conferences before a key vote that will take place in the coming days on whether to send four former ministers to Turkey's top court over corruption claims.

If at least 53 AKP lawmakers vote in favor of sending former ministers Egemen Bağış, Muammer Güler, Zafer Çağlayan and Erdoğan Bayraktar to the Supreme Council, they risk being tried before the top court.

After the parliamentary panel tasked to investigate the corruption claims concerning these ministers decided not to send them to the top court, AKP parliamentary group officials divided the party's 317 lawmakers into five groups and held meetings to discuss how they would vote at the General Assembly.

It has been understood that most of the lawmakers have expressed their intention to vote negatively, in line with the inquiry commission’s decision. There are claims that only 10 AKP lawmakers may vote against sending these ministers to the top court, with others abstaining from voting. 

Although the deadline for the vote is Jan. 29, the AKP parliamentary group is planning to hold the vote next week.