Parliament to discuss motion to lift HDP deputies' immunity on March 22
by Daily Sabah
ANKARAMar 10, 2016 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Daily Sabah
Mar 10, 2016 12:00 am
Parliament is expected to discuss lifting the parliamentary immunity of five Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) deputies on March 22. Parliament is taking a 10-day recess after two weeks of continuous budget debates. The summary of proceedings on accusations of HPD deputies' alleged terrorist offenses, including party co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, will be the priority after the recess is over.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu recently announced that the summary of proceedings to lift some HDP deputies' parliamentary immunity has been transferred to Parliament. "I believe that we should defend every deputy's immunity even if they have the most dissident ideas against me. Whatever they say or whatever idea they declare, no one can touch a person talking at the chair of the people on behalf of them," Davutoğlu said on Sunday. Parliamentary sources confirmed on Wednesday that they received the official motion. According to parliamentary bylaws, an absolute majority of 276 votes is needed to accept the motion. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which has 316 deputies, and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which has 40 deputies, already declared their support for the motion, so it is almost a foregone conclusion that the HDP deputies' immunities will be removed.
Parliamentary sources have said that HDP deputies are currently considering their strategies after the removal of the immunities of the some its deputies. Reportedly, some HDP deputies are suggesting resigning from Parliament and starting an alternative parliament in Diyarbakır. Other HDP deputies, however, suggest to wait and see what happens.
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