...

Freezing Activity of Ruling Party in Turkey May Bring Political Crisis: Experts

Politics Materials 17 March 2008 20:48 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, 17 March /corr. Trend R.Hafizoglu / The decision of the Turkish court to freeze the activity of the ruling Justice and Development Party (JDP) may bring on the next crisis in the Country. "The decision to freeze the activity of JDP is a step against democracy and the people's will in Turkey," Turkish MP Sadullah Ergin said.

According to the information provided by the Turkish media on 14 March, the Prosecutor-General of the Country, Abdulrahman Yalchingaya, said that the activity of the JDP contrasts with the establishment of a high State and made an appeal to the Constitutional Court, with a lawsuit to impose a ban on the party's activity. "No pretension against the party is logical," Ergen told Trend by telephone from Istanbul on 17 March. According to him, JDP is the choice of the Turkish people and each step against this choice is demonstrating disrespect.

The expert of the U.S. George Washington University, Merve Kavakchi, considers that the requirement to impose a ban on the activity of the JDP will influence Turkey's international image. "The Turkish 'Kemalists' (followers of the founder of Republic of Turkey, Kemal Pasha Ataturk) are attempting to strangle democracy in the Country," Kavakchi reported to Trend on 17 March via e-mail from Washington.

Kavakchi considers that the accusations of the Prosecutor General against JDP are baseless. "The JDP is not an Islamite, but a democratic party," he said. However, according to him, serious reforms should be carried out for the democratic development in the country.

Turkish law observer Fatima Benli considers that freezing the activity of the JDP may result in a political crisis in Turkey. "The JDP is a ruling party elected by the Turkish people democratically. The requirements to freeze the activity of the JDP show that several circles do not attach importance to democratic values," Benli said.

According to her, freezing the activity of the JDP while the Government fights against PKK terrorists may bring to the issue that they may use the political crisis and act upon it.

On 14 March the Prime Minister of Turkey, Rajab Teyyub Erdogan, said that his party is not Islamite, but a democratic party and was elected by the Turkish people.

In 1988 the activity of Fazilat Party was ceased due to its Islamite policy.

Latest

Latest