CHP calls on EU to open Chapters 23 and 24 to strengthen justice impartiality

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), met with former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, the head of the European Council of Foreign Relations (ECFR), who has been holding meetings with political leaders in Ankara over the last two days. 

Deputy CHP leader Öztürk Yılmaz, who attended the meeting, informed reporters after the meeting and said the July 15 failed coup attempt and its aftermath were discussed by the two men. 

“Mr. Chairman [Kılıçdaroğlu] expressed our expectation for the opening of Chapters 23 and 24 for making progress on judicial independence and impartiality,” Yılmaz also told reporters. Chapter 23 on the judiciary and fundamental rights and Chapter 24 on justice, freedom and security are two key chapters in pushing candidate countries to further align its laws and regulations with the EU on fundamental freedoms, justice and other democratic norms. 

The opening of these two chapters is blocked by Greek Cyprus. 

Kılıçdaroğlu also stressed the need for normalization in Turkey and an end to the state of emergency, as planned in two months, as well as strengthening the parliamentary system, in the meeting, Yılmaz said. 

The CHP leader hosted European Parliament President Martin Schultz and his delegation on Sept. 1. 

After the meeting, Kılıçdaroğlu told the media that Schultz called him and expressed his congratulations over the CHP’s stance on the coup night and commitment to supporting Turkish democracy. 

Schultz, for his part, said, “We share the same opinion that Turkey and the EU are getting closer comparing to [the] past. Although we have different views on a number of issues, we have also seen that [the] issues we do agree on are more.”