Former main opposition leader Baykal under fire

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Baykal (C), the former leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) recentlu appeared before the coup commission. AA photo

The head of the parliamentary commission assigned to investigate military coups yesterday criticized Deniz Baykal, the former leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), for storming out of a recent panel meeting before questioning him as she had desired to do before his quick exit on Wednesday.

Nimet Baş, head of Parliament’s Coups and Military Memorandums Commission, said in a written statement that Baykal’s behavior showed he still thought himself to be the main opposition leader and expected to be treated that way.

Baş forwarded three questions to the former CHP head, which she could not ask at the meeting. She inquired whether Baykal was offered deputy prime ministerial post during the Feb. 28 process, whether he had been in constant talks with then top generals at the time and whether he said in 2007 the Turkish Army would never let Recep Tayyip Erdoğan be president before Abdullah Gül was elected president.

Baykal refused to testify before the parliamentary commission on Oct. 30 on the grounds that he was a significant figure in recent Turkish political history.

Baykal appeared before the commission and explained why he would not speak. Parliamentary inquiry commissions can only hear official authorities regarding their inquiry issues according to Article 103 of Parliament’s internal regulations, Baykal said.

According to Baykal, a parliamentary commission cannot question individuals by making arbitrary calls and the commission cannot use its inquiry right for investigation.

Baykal left the commission room after his speech, refusing to hear the explanations of the commission chair, Baş.