PM slams opposition over ending deputies' immunity

ANKARA

Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Wednesday criticized the main opposition for keeping silent on a bill which would lift lawmakers’ immunity from prosecution.

Addressing the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's 5th Local Administrations Symposium at the ATO Congresium, Davutoglu said of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP): "The CHP is worried about its lawmakers appearing before the judiciary. They are fearful, holding back."

The bill, which was sent Tuesday to the office of the parliament speaker with the signature of 316 AK Party deputies, would amend the constitution with a temporary clause to remove protection from prosecution from 129 of the Grand National Assembly’s 550 deputies.

The targeted lawmakers, who come from all four parliamentary parties, have had a total of 562 criminal proceedings filed against them.

"Nothing has been heard from CHP, which had busied public opinion with the immunity issue for days, even years," said Davutoglu.

He said the CHP had not lent any support to the proposal, which would bring lawmakers who support terrorism before the judiciary.

"We do not want anyone in the parliament who supports terrorism," Davutoglu added.

Proposals to lift lawmakers’ immunity from prosecution have been discussed for some time. The debate previously centered on opposition lawmakers, particularly ones from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) accused of supporting PKK terrorism.

“If you committed a crime, you will pay for it,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday.