CHP calls for review of municipalities law

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

CHP deputies Altay (R) and Tanal speak in front of the Constitutional Court. AA photo

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has made a plea to the Constitutional Court to bring forward debates on their earlier appeal for the annulment of a controversial law on restructuring municipalities.

If the law goes into force before the March 2014 local elections, it will lead to results that cannot be accounted for and even results that are irretrievable, the CHP argued in its petition.

The law was adopted by Parliament in November and approved by President Abdullah Gül in December, despite strong objections from the opposition.

“As the local elections are approaching, we demand this case, which has already been opened, be brought forward and finalized at once, so the confusion arising from the new regulations can be clarified,” CHP’s Sinop deputy Engin Altay and Istanbul deputy Mahmut Tanal said in the petition, which they filed at the Constitutional Court yesterday.

If the case is not brought forward, the duration allowed for the promotion and electioneering for candidates who will run for the offices of village heads and mayors of districts will be considerably and unfairly shortened, the CHP deputies argued. They also noted that operations that should be undertaken by the Supreme Election Board (YSK), as well by as election boards in provinces and towns, would be delayed, leading to possible confusion in the operation of ballot boxes.

Altay recalled that they had taken the law to the court on Dec. 31, but it had still not been discussed. He stressed that the YSK was set to announce the local elections calendar in five months.