Turkish Parliament to work even after first round of presidential vote

ANKARA

DAILY NEWS Photo

Parliament’s General Assembly has voted to extend its work until Aug. 14, upon a proposal by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). It will therefore continue working even after the first round of the presidential election, set for Aug. 10.

The AKP’s proposal was introduced and adopted late July 22, despite objections from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

Parliament’s summer recess was originally scheduled to begin on July 1. However, it was previously extended to July 25 upon an initiative by the AKP. That extension was widely considered to be an indication of the government’s desire to ensure the approval of a bill giving a legal framework to the peace process with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) before the presidential elections, as part of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan bid to attract support from Kurdish voters.

Eventually, the law went effect after being published in the Official Gazette on July 16, following President Abdullah Gül’s approval.

Since mid-July, the General Assembly has been debating an omnibus law including measures on more than 170 articles on different topics.