Panel paves way for trousers for female deputies at Turkish Parliament

ANKARA

Parliament’s Constitution Conciliation panel discuss trousers issue. AA photo

Parliament’s Constitution Conciliation Commission has approved an amendment paving the way for female deputies to wear trousers during General Assembly meetings following a call from a prominent main-opposition deputy.

The commission passed a proposal to change Article 56 of Parliament’s internal regulations to state that “Women shall wear jackets and skirts or jackets and trousers” instead of the previous “Ladies shall wear tailleur.” The amendment is expected to be approved by the General Assembly next week.

The ban, which has long been a source of complaint for female deputies, was put back on the agenda after several Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies entered a General Assembly meeting on Oct. 31 in headscarves. Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Şafak Pavey took the floor during the session, noting that while women were now permitted to appear in veils in the legislature, Parliament’s internal regulations still prevented them from wearing pants. Pavey, who has a prosthetic leg, has long demanded that the regulations be formally changed to permit her to wear trousers.

During the session, Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Çiçek suggested the trousers issue could be resolved through reconciliation and without any amendment to the internal regulations, as had been the case with the headscarves.