Ruling party scores own goal in stopping own bill in Turkey

ANKARA

Deputies of the ruling AKP rejected the proposal as a full bloc, following the main opposition CHP’s approval, which was regarded as an automatic response due to the habit of directly rejecting all proposals from the CHP. Hürriyet photo

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has rejected its own proposal that was part of an omnibus bill regulating the personal rights of health employees in provincial areas, mistaking it as belonging to the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), according to a Turkish newspaper.

Deputies of the AKP rejected the proposal as a full bloc, following the CHP’s approval, which was regarded as an automatic response due to the habit of directly rejecting all proposals from the CHP, daily Sözcü reported July 8. Upon realizing their mistake, deputies objected to the vote, yet Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Sadık Yakut informed then that there was nothing to be done. For the article to be renegotiated, the AKP needs to get the support of all three opposition parties in Parliament.

“The AKP, who rejected a proposal of the CHP, also rejected the article they voted on, right after thinking that it belonged to the opposition. They do not read the laws, they do not follow Parliament. They are not present in the assembly hall, they come in running when there is voting and look at each other puzzled,” CHP deputy Haydar Akar was quoted as saying by Sözcü.

Second time

Another CHP deputy, Özgür Özel, defined the situation as “a goal scored by the opposition against the AKP.”

A similar case took place in 2008, when the AKP rejected a proposal on the social security law, concerning the people retired from the Social Security Organization (SSK). As the CHP voted in favor, the AKP bloc voted “no,” thinking that the proposal belonged to the CHP.

Officials said there is no obstacle such as “time limit” in front of revoting of the proposal. Thus, it is likely to be revoted in October.