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CHP criticized over ‘boycott’ at Socialist International meeting
The president of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, told Today's Zaman that an effectively working parliament is important for the Socialist International's ethical values. “I think this coming month will show if both sides, the EU and Turkey, and within Turkey, the Justice and Development Party [AK Party] and Republican People's Party, will decide whether Turkey will go in the European direction,” he said on the sidelines of the meeting.
Commenting on the election results, Schulz said: “Turkey is a very important state and the parliamentary election results showed that there is some improvement in Turkey. The results are not so bad and it shows progress.”
He underlined that all related parties, including the Turkish government, the opposition in Turkey and the European Union, must face the question of whether there the Turkish perspective is towards Europe or not. “Turkey is at a crossroads, whether to go [in the] European direction or to find an alternative way,” he added.
Nicos Hasapopulos, the political editor of To Vima, one of the most reputable newspapers in Greece, said constitutionally it is very important for Parliament to work efficiently. He also underlined the fact the Turkish voters have elected the CHP and other deputies in order for them to make it into Parliament. “It is unconstitutional to boycott Parliament by not taking the oath. At this point the constitutional court in Turkey could intervene,” Hasapopulos told Today's Zaman.
Hasapopulos also referred to the fact that all the parties in Turkey have declared their intention to draft a new constitution before the elections. “Yet now we observe that some have backtracked on such a decision. Why? I personally observed that by creating such an oath crisis, the CHP and the [Peace and Democracy Party] BDP do not wish to change the constitution,” Hasapopulos said.
Regarding the meeting that was planned between Socialist International president and Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on Thursday in Athens, Hasapopulos added that said facts might be brought up and talked over during the meeting.
Hasapopulos also mentioned that the CHP had similar troubles in the past with the International when the party was accused by some members of violating the international socialist organization's values and therefore threatened with expulsion from the organization. “For a socialist party, not attending parliament should not be an option. The CHP could face serious sanctions by the Socialist International for its decision to boycott Parliament,” he said.
Advancing people's hopes in the Arab world and peace in the Middle East and nuclear energy: lessons from Fukushima were the main themes for the Socialist International Council meeting, which is scheduled to take place from July 1-2 in Athens.
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| BÜLENT KENEŞ |  |
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| What befell Niyazi-i Misri in the past is happening to Fethullah Gülen now | |||
| EKREM DUMANLI |  |
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| When a call for fairness and reason finds acceptance | |||
| ŞAHİN ALPAY |  |
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| Uludere, test case for democracy in Turkey | |||
| EMRE USLU |  |
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| Are the Kurds mentally divorced from Turkey? | |||
| GÖKHAN BACIK |  |
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| Erdoğan, Gül and Davutoğlu: the inner bargain on Turkish foreign policy | |||
| MARKAR ESAYAN |  |
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| Taking lessons from previous experiences with the military | |||
| YAVUZ BAYDAR |  |
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| Qualm | |||
| ÖMER TAŞPINAR |  |
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| A new phase in Syria? | |||
| İHSAN DAĞI |  |
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| Turkish foreign policy: Time for a re-evaluation | |||
| SEYFETTİN GÜRSEL |  |
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| Poor-friendly economic growth and the AK Party | |||
| CHARLOTTE MCPHERSON |  |
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| Missing women, missing opportunities | |||
| BERK ÇEKTİR |  |
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| Changes to incentives for investment in Turkey | |||
| MERVE BÜŞRA ÖZTÜRK |  |
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| The 1960 coup: a final test for democracy | |||
| AMANDA PAUL |  |
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| Ukraine: a lost country | |||
| MÜMTAZER TÜRKÖNE |  |
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| The 52nd anniversary of May 27 | |||
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