Reluctant deputies challenge ruling AKP at Turkish Parliament

Nuray Babacan ANKARA

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu (R) waves upon his arrival for a parliamentary group meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) at Turkey's Grand National Assembly. AFP Photo

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been facing difficulties in gathering enough deputies to conduct its legislative work in Parliament, mainly due to the reluctance of 71 MPs who will not run for reelection in June next year.  

AKP executives are expected to ask for support from party leader and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu to encourage deputies to join in the general assembly.

The AKP has a self-declared rule that bars deputies who have been elected for three terms in a row from being nominated for another term. Some 71 AKP deputies will miss the next parliamentary elections according to this rule.

The ruling party has 312 deputies at the 550-member Turkish Parliament. However, reaching the 184 attendees required for the parliamentary process to be conducted at the general assembly has become difficult when other absentees are included, including members of parliamentary commissions and those who are in their hometowns for party work. Sources say the number of MPs who do not attend the general assembly meetings without an excuse is also considerable.

Last week, a number of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) members helped the ruling party crossed the required deputies threshold.