BY OZDEMIR INCE
HURRIYET- Recently a dispute over the Supreme Court of Appeals chief prosecutor filing an indictment seeking the closure of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) has been making headlines. Democrats are saying that closing political parties ill suits democracies and doesn't solve any problems. They condemn the push to close parties and are pointing fingers at the officials involved.
I share this general view of party closures, yet on the other hand I don't blame the officials seeking the closure. The majority of the public believe that the DTP deserves to be closed, but in order not to create a bad impression, they don't want it to be closed.
**
Is it possible to close the DTP? Yes, it is! How were charges filed against the party? In line with the law .
Certain circles claim that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan opposes closing the DTP, while the chief prosecutor, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and terrorist PKK all favor its closure.
The Supreme Court's chief prosecutor has drawn a lot of fire. But he based his argument on Articles 68 and 69 of the Constitution and the Political Parties Law as well as other laws specified in the indictment. If he hadn't done so, he could have been charged with neglecting his duty. And the MHP could have filed a complaint against him.
**
People who say no indictment should have been filed should work to change all the laws that the indictment against the DTP is dependent on. All these laws could be changed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government. It has necessary power in Parliament to do that.
It was charged! Now the Constitutional Court has greenlighted the case and the legal process has begun. The DTP will be closed or not. Our knowledge and experience indicate that it could be closed.
**
If the DTP is closed down, or if it isn't, the AKP government is the sole responsible party for this. It has the remedy in its hands. The relevant articles in the Constitution, Political Parties Law and other laws should be changed immediately. But the party's passionate supporters don't even intent to criticize it.
So this is only a show of Second Republicanism, and democracy!