To postpone the elections: The last nail in democracy’s coffin
The insistent proposal made by Bülent Arınç, a founding member of the AK Party, to postpone the elections set for June 18, 2023, seem like an attempt to hammer the last nail in the coffin of our hybrid democracy, which now may be more aptly called an elective autocracy. Mr Arınç is surreptitiously suggesting that […]
We Must Learn Lessons before the Major Earthquakes to Come
Our hopes of rescuing those trapped under the rubble of the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş earthquake are dwindling further and further with each passing day. As the news comes through of miraculous rescues from under the debris, we burst into tears. The whole nation is grieving over the news that the death toll has exceeded […]
Elections Cannot Be Held Before or After June 18
Around 13.5% of the country’s population lives in the region where the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş earthquake occurred. According to official figures, at the end of the first six days, the death toll as a result of the massive destruction was close to 30,000, with more than 90,000 injured. Much of the region’s building stock […]
The First 72 Hours of the Earthquake: The Time After and the Time for Accountability
On 6 February 2023, the continent of Africa, which has been blatantly sneaking under our Anatolia for years in collaboration with the freezing cold and snowstorm coming from Siberia, hit our country with earthquakes of 7.7 magnitude in Pazarcık, followed by 7.6 magnitude in Elbistan and more than 180 aftershocks. The earthquake hit in the […]
Would the Assassination of Sinan Ateş Have Been Solved Faster with a Court Martial?
Some information has come to the attention of the public that more than one person was involved in the assassination of Sinan Ateş; that the duty to protect the lives of the public, which is assigned to the police by Article 1 of Law No. 2559, may have been disregarded; and that the assassination could have […]
The Opposition’s Judicial Promises: priorities clear, despite shortcomings
The most striking aspect of the Common Policies Consensus Document (CPCD) announced by the opposition parties’ coalition, known as the Table of Six, on January 30 2023 is perhaps the fact that “law, justice and [the] judiciary” appears first, “public administration” second and “anti-corruption, transparency and audit” third in the document’s list of common policies. […]
All eyes are on top election board for Erdoğan’s presidency
President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s announcement that he would use his presidential authority on March 10 to renew the election on May 14 quickly fuelled the debate that he would not be able to run again. Despite main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s statement that they would […]
The possibility of snap elections and Erdoğan’s candidacy
Can President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan run again in the 2023 elections? While the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) members think certainly he can, the chair of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu announced “We will not have a discussion about Erdoğan’s candidacy. If he wishes to run he is more than welcome.” This is […]
A First in Turkish History: A Report Card for the Judiciary
For the first time in Türkiye’s history, a citizen is giving the judiciary a report card based on its services. This outcome finds its roots in seeds that I sowed back in 2014, in the report Quality Demand and Quality Elements in Judicial Services, the product of a four-year study I conducted while serving as […]
Will There Be a Judiciary Instruction Regarding the İmamoğlu Case?
Murat Yetkin stated in his article of December 15, 2022, that “Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdağ can speed up Erdoğan’s judiciary, accelerate the processes of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Cassation and ensure that İmamoğlu’s decision is approved before the elections.” Could this be possible? Could there be an instruction to the […]
Perils of the constitutional amendment proposal of the opposition
I agree with my editor Murat Yetkin that it is a good thing for the 6 political opposition parties unite around a table and dream of a better Turkey. Nonetheless I have serious doubts whether the aspired Turkey is a better one, and it is my duty to highlight the risks of the proposed amendments that are issued. It […]
Should Constitutional Court hand individual complaints over?
Turkish Constitutional Court (TCC) throws in the towel and says there is an overload of complaints of violations from individuals regarding rights to fair trial. Howbeit TCC has the least workload among the higher courts in Turkey. Including the rapporteurs, each judge sitting at TCC has 300 cases, excluding the inadmissible applications, whereas Court of […]
