Parliament speaker tries to avoid controversy over PM’s tenure

ANKARA

Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek (L) with outgoing President Abdullah Gül. DHA Photo

Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek has carefully declined to comment on controversy surrounding the legitimacy and legality of President-elect and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s refusal to resign from his posts as ruling party leader and prime minister.

Rather than commenting directly, Çiçek stressed that the Republic of Turkey is a state with “sufficient experience to resolve any potential problem” when the time comes.

“Why would I get involved in a discussion before the day comes? The water will find its way; Turkey is not a state that is newly founded. This issue doesn’t have a dimension that is a matter of close interest to me. Let the day come and then we’ll look into it,” Çiçek told reporters late on Aug. 13, after being asked about the date when Erdoğan’s term in office as prime minister ends.

When asked whether “the water will flow according to rules and regulations,” Çiçek responded, “the water flows as it should flow.”

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has argued that the president-elect’s membership of his party, as well as his membership in Parliament, became illegitimate after the Supreme Election Board (YSK) announced the final results of the Aug. 10 presidential election.

CHP Spokesperson Haluk Koç suggested on Aug. 13 that responsibility for announcing the end of Erdoğan’s tenure lies on the shoulders of Çiçek.

“If Mr. Çiçek doesn’t make any abracadabra … Neither the prime minister, nor the Parliament speaker, nor [Justice and Development Party] AKP officials have been granted the right to violate the law,” Koç added.