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AK Party does not expect a veto of the reform package
Following the passage of the legislation in Parliament last month, opposition parties the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) accused the government of “deceiving” them by not informing them about the full content of the package. Hence, they called on President Gül, who has not yet approved the package, to veto the legislation on the grounds that it runs contrary to the Constitution. Bozdağ said some circles were working intensely to make the vetoing of the package possible, adding: “As the AK Party, we do not expect a veto from the president. We are not making any efforts to this effect [to prevent a veto].”
He said a small but active group was working to ensure the vetoing of the package and they were trying to pave the way for a veto by creating the impression that the AK Party was preparing for the possibility of a veto.
The legislation came amid renewed tensions between the powerful military and the government after a newspaper published a document last month that allegedly outlined an army plot to undermine the ruling AK Party.
“Why should President Gül veto legislation on whose essence everyone is in consensus?” asked Bozdağ. “There is intense work going on to ensure the vetoing of the package. Some groups are trying to win the public's support for a veto through the media. News articles are being published making it appear that the AK Party is making preparations in case of a possible veto. This is not true because we do not expect a veto.”
Bozdağ dismissed allegations that the legislation ran contrary to the Constitution, noting that all segments of society including the main opposition party and the military agreed with the essence of the legislation.
He also denied the claim that the legislation was approved by Parliament without much discussion. “This legislation was a promise that we made earlier in the national program and in the 2008 national program [a roadmap for European Union reforms]. The recommendations of the EU commission about the need for such legislation are obvious. The reform of the judiciary issue has priority. So, criticisms suggesting that this issue was not on Turkey's agenda and it was not sufficiently debated are unjust. The reason it was only approved by Parliament at midnight was due to the opposition parties. This legislation was made as a requirement of democratization efforts,” Bozdağ stated.
‘Opposition parties gave sincere support'
Bozdağ said parliamentary group deputy chairmen from the MHP and the CHP gave sincere support to the legislation and they were not those who were opposed to its passage now.
He also said calls for the revision and then addition of some articles to the package were not well-intentioned, adding that any possible addition to the legislation will damage the legal assurances of the military granted by the current version.
Regarding the prospect of civilian prosecutors requesting permission from the General Staff to take legal action against members of the military, he said such suggestions will not bring a more advantageous situation for members of the military. “In that case, there would be no law or court in Turkey that would make the trial of the chief of general staff possible,” he said.
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