Opposition calls on Gül to appoint deputy PM to end controversy

ANKARA

AFP Photo

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has insisted President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdoğan can no longer legally hold the title of Prime Ministry, calling on the outgoing president to resolve the issue, which is illegal under the Constitution.

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which nominated a joint presidential candidate with the CHP for the Aug. 10 election, which saw Erdoğan win by 52 percent, also echoed the CHP’s argument.

“There has been no prime minister in Turkey from Aug. 16, up until today [Aug. 18],” CHP Deputy Parliamentary Group Chair Akif Hamzaçebi said at a press conference at Parliament yesterday.

His remarks echoed the argument that as of Aug. 15, Erdoğan’s membership in Parliament and of his party became illegitimate once the Supreme Election Board (YSK) announced the final election results.
“However, there is Erdoğan, who has seized the Prime Ministry office,” Hamzaçebi said.

“President Gül should appoint a deputy prime minister. Otherwise, Mr. Gül will also become a partner in this incident. It is Gül’s duty,” he added.

While also speaking at a press conference, MHP Deputy Parliamentary Group Chair Oktay Vural highlighted the same points as Hamzaçebi by referring to the Constitution.

“According to the Constitution, if a person whose term of Prime Ministry has ended and is still acting as a prime minister, then it means the president and parliamentary speaker are not fulfilling their constitutional duties,” Vural said, as he urged both Gül and the Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek to take action on the matter.