As you remember, the debates occurred when the TCK package was withdrawn, and this brought some contradictory conspiracy theories along with it. The plots have become a thing of the past, and we are now facing realities. When Erdogan had the "No, there are no other pre-conditions to be fulfilled" response from Verheugen, for "Is there any other condition apart from adultery?" question, he pledged to push the TCK package through Parliament before October 6. Just after that the calendar was determined.
Getting the signal from Erdogan, the parliamentary group of Justice and Development Party (AKP) immediately went into action, the necessary signatures were collected, and before the scheduled Kizilcahamam camp, it called an emergency session of Parliament on Sunday. Two days earlier, the parliamentary group of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) had also called an emergency session. As the ruling party took action, the CHP.call.no longer carried any meaning.
It is obvious that Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, waiting for the AKP stance on the meeting, will give a positive response to this request. Hence, Parliament will convene on Sunday and the TCK debates, whose package was sent to the commission for further deliberation, will resume from where they stopped. As a matter of fact, the controversial articles have been passed, all that remains is to put the articles into effect and apply them. When these articles are adopted, there will be a vote on the entire draft law.
There is no need is for additional effort since AKP's push to criminalize adultery is not included in the draft law. If the criminalization of adultery had been proposed, AKP would have requested further debates and would have added a clause criminalizing adultery to the draft law through a motion. Now that possibility no longer exists. The parliamentary stage of the TCK will be completed in a short time on Sunday and will be sent to the Cankaya [Presidential Palace] for approval by President Ahmed Necdet Sezer.
During the short deliberations, spokesmen for the opposition party most probably will speak. And what they will talk about is almost evident. CHP speakers will ask questions like, "If the same draft was going to be adopted without any amendments, then why was it withdrawn in the first place? What are the real reasons for the one-week delay? What has changed during this period, and the seriousness of Brussels?" Depending on the response the government will deliver, heated debates may occur at the General Assembly.
It is necessary to congratulate Erdogan for making a reasonable decision after feeling the atmosphere in Brussels. Otherwise turning the issue into a serious crisis would certainly have put relations with the EU at an impasse. Meanwhile, the outcome of the October 6 report that will shed light on whether or not Turkey will be given a negotiation date, has become clear. Statements by both Verheugen and [Romano] Prodi indicate that the report will be in Turkey's favor. Yesterday was a historic day when the black clouds over Turkey's EU adventure vanished and the European horizon cleared up.
The penal code adventure was also interesting. First, people raised their voices and called for amendments to articles that restrict rights and freedoms. Members of Parliament listened to the voice of society and the problematic parts of the draft were again reviewed by both AKP and CHP. When both parties approached the issue constructively, the TCK turned into a more libertarian identity. Verheugen put the finishing touches. He informed Ankara accordingly through some media organs, that criminalizing adultery is not compatible with European standards and would put the negotiation date at risk. After the vote on Sunday, the TCK will acquire its final shape. In the meantime of course, Cankaya can also play with the setting of the TCK. Although it is a very slim possibility, topics sensitive to internal dynamics, such as Articles 310 and 312, could face veto. I do not believe there will be a backward step regarding the package, since the political will in the EU process is in favor of more democratization and freedoms.
Looking back, one might ask, were the exhausting debates for one whole week necessary at all? For example, was it worth being asked by the German Bild newspaper whether Erdogan is a reformer or a wolf in sheep's clothing? I really wonder what the answer of the ruling party will be…
September 24, 2004
