President’s spokesperson and Turkey’s top court judge deny internal tension
Constitutional Court head Kılıç (L), Parliament Speaker Çiçek (C,) and President Erdoğan (R) are seen at the luncheon at the presidential palace in Ankara.
Both President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the head of Turkey’s Constitutional Court have denied there is any tension between them, after joining a luncheon hosted by the former at the presidential palace in Ankara.“There is no room for tension in the state’s governance. Of course, everybody states their views, but at a certain point what matters is not individuals, but the future of the state and the service of the state, the public service,” Constitutional Court President Haşim Kılıç told reporters as he was leaving the palace after the luncheon on Jan. 28.
“Within this framework, these things could be considered as extremely normal, social relationships,” he added.
Along with Kılıç, President Erdoğan also hosted Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, and Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ in his capacity as the head of the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK). In addition, the heads of other top courts were also present at the meeting, including Zerrin Güngör, the head of the Council of State; Ali Alkan, the head of the Supreme Court of Appeals; Recai Akyel, the head of the Court of Accounts; Serdar Özgüldür, the head of the Court of Conflicts; Major General Ahmet Zeki Liman, the head of the Military Supreme Court of Appeals; and Major General Abdullah Arslan, the head of the Military High Administrative Court.
Presidential Secretary-General Fahri Kasırga and Hasan Doğan, the president’s chief of the cabinet, also joined the luncheon.
Speaking at a press conference held after the gathering, Presidential Vice Secretary-General and Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın said it took place in an “extremely warm atmosphere.”
“Providing harmony between institutions is one of our president’s duties. The gathering took place in an extremely warm atmosphere,” Kalın said.