CHP’s Tanal asks for AKP’s closure

ANKARA

CHP’s Tanal says he filed a criminal complaint against PM Tayyip Erdoğan. DHA photo

Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul deputy Mahmut Tanal said yesterday that he had filed a criminal complaint at the top prosecutor’s office to demand the closure of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the opening of proceedings against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for interfering in the judiciary.

“As guaranteed by Article 36 of the Constitution, everybody has the right to a fair trial. Someone assigned the [duty] of the judiciary should not be taken under influence at all and no statement should be used to try to influence a fair trial,” Tanal said in reference to a Sept. 5 quote from Erdoğan in which he said, “We’ve already told the judiciary what is necessary; the judiciary is doing what is necessary. We will also do what is necessary in Parliament” in relation to lifting the immunity of pro-Kurdish deputies for alleged links to militants.

Erdoğan’s statement violated both Article 277, which covers pressure or influence on members of the judiciary, and Article 288, which deals with attempts to influence a fair trial, of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), Tanal said.