Over 1,000 summaries, no deputy's legislative immunity removed
by Daily Sabah
ANKARAAug 06, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Daily Sabah
Aug 06, 2015 12:00 am
While discussions on the removal of the legislative immunity of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) deputies continue due to their alleged support for the PKK, statistics obtained by Parliament show that there more than 1,000 summaries waiting to proceed.
Last week nine more deputies' summary proceedings were transferred to the Speaker's Office of Parliament, which has sparked discussions on the removal of legislative immunity. HDP Deputy Chair Pervin Buldan; HDP Deputy Faysal Sarıyıldız, who was charged with supplying arms to the PKK; Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu; CHP deputy chairmen Gürsel Tekin and Haluk Koç and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy Suat Ünal are among those whose legislative immunities will be discussed when Parliament convenes on Oct. 1. HDP Co-Chair Figen Yüksekdağ is also facing an investigation on the charge of propagating terrorism due to previous statements in which she said they relied on the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its People's Protection Units (YPG), which are both considered terrorist organizations by Turkey, in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in Syria,.
According to the statistics obtained by Parliament's Justice Commission, as of today there are 1,048 summary proceedings on 175 deputies regarding 179 distinct charges were waiting to proceed in Parliament. With last week's additions there are 63 summaries against HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş and 28 Kılıçdaroğlu. In addition, statistics show that in the last year there were three summaries against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, however they were returned to the prosecutor's office after Erdoğan was elected president.
The most recurring charges are propagating terrorism with 186 cases, followed by insult, provocation and malpractice. During the said time period, Parliament decided against the removal of legislative immunity of all 175 deputies.
The Constitution and Parliament's bylaws detail the process of removing legislative immunity. First, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office must decide whether a deputy's legal elements of a crime has occurred. If it has occurred, the summary proceeding regarding the removal of legislative immunity is sent to the Speaker's Office, which is relayed to the Joint Commission on the Constitution and Justice. After the commission examines the summaries and holds a hearing with the deputy in question if necessary, the summary proceedings are voted on in the general assembly in which a simple majority is needed to lift immunity. Even if a deputy's legislative immunity is removed, they maintain their posts and legislative activities.
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