Court of Appeals elects its new chief

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Ali Alkan is elected as the new head of the Supreme Court of Appeals with 201 votes. AA photo

The Supreme Court of Appeals yesterday elected a new president, Ali Alkan, in a rare single-round vote. Alkan, who succeeds Nazım Kaynak after the latter retired due to the age limit, was elected with 201 votes, while the other candidates, Kemalettin Yüksel and Ahmet Ceylani Tuğrul, received 39 and 92 votes respectively.

Speaking to reporters following the election, Alkan categorically rejected allegations that some candidates had claimed the tacit support of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan while seeking support from their colleagues.

“No one in the Supreme Court of Appeals represents a certain group, idea or faith. Everyone at the Court represents the superiority of the law, and carries out their tasks accordingly. I condemn such allegations,” he said. Alkan stressed that he would strive for “a court that takes quality, stability and continuity as its basic principles, instead of changing its mission, vision, ambitions and strategies according to those who administer it.”

The 62-year-old Alkan is a 1973 graduate of Ankara University’s Faculty of Law. He was elected member of the Supreme Court of Appeals in 1997 and had headed the Court’s 13th Civil Chamber since 2009. The Supreme Court of Appeals also yesterday elected Mahmut Bilgen, the head of the 23rd Civil Chamber, as its new deputy president.