Erdoğan was speaking to a group of journalists on a program on Beyaz TV late on Monday when he called Gerçeker’s speech during a ceremony held earlier that day to mark the start of the new judicial year “unfortunate.” Erdoğan said the speech carried a threatening message about the future of the high judiciary’s relationship with the government. “He comments about the future. He says that if ‘yes’ comes out in the referendum then it will drive a wedge between the executive body and the judiciary. How can a Supreme Court of Appeals president say that?” Erdoğan asked.
In his speech, Gerçeker criticized the constitutional amendment package to be voted at the referendum on Sept. 12, saying the changes it introduces to the Constitutional Court’s structure will politicize the high judiciary. He also added that the dissonance between the executive body and high courts would deepen further if the changes are approved in the national vote.
Erdoğan also reiterated his criticism against the Judges and Prosecutors Association (YARSAV), which he says has been acting like a political party. “We have already changed their name to YARSAP [the Judges and Prosecutors Party],” he said.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chairman Hüseyin Çelik was also highly critical about Gerçeker’s speech, which he likened to being part of the “no” campaign against the package. “What gives the president of the Supreme Court of Appeals the right to carry out a ‘no’ campaign like a political party?” he said on Monday.
On Sunday, the nation will vote on a number of constitutional changes approved by Parliament in May. Among other things, the reform package includes changes to the structure of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), the two changes strongly opposed by the high judiciary. Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Çiçek also commented on Gerçeker’s speech, saying it was unfortunate, but he stressed that it would not be binding for the whole judiciary. “This speech should either not have been delivered or should have been delivered on Sept. 13,” he said.
