Closure Case: Ak Party Submits Its Preliminary Defence To Turkey's Top Court

ANKARA - Officials of Turkey`s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party submitted Wednesday its preliminary defence in the prohibition case to Turkey`s top court.
Deputy chairman Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat and two other AK Party officials submitted the preliminary defence of their party in the prohibition case compiled in 6 files to the Constitutional court.
Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of Appeals Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya filed a lawsuit on March 14th asking the Constitutional Court to close Turkey`s ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party. He said "the party has become the focal point of anti-secular activities".
In his indictment, the chief prosecutor demanded 71 people, including President Abdullah Gul (a former FM) and PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to be banned from politics for five years.
On March 31st, the Constitutional Court judges convened to make a preliminary assessment of the indictment and they accepted the indictment unanimously and the part concerning President Gul with a majority of votes (7-4) .
The Constitutional Court sent on Apr. 2nd the indictment regarding the dissolution and prohibition case to ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party along with the approbation record.
The case will proceed as follows:
AK Party`s preliminary defense will be sent to the Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor`s Office.
After the Chief Prosecutor states his views on the merits of the case, AK Party will make a verbal defense in a month`s time.
This will be followed by verbal statements of the Chief Prosecutor. Later the rapporteur assigned by the Constitutional Court will prepare his/her report on the merits of the case.
In this phase, the Chief Prosecutor can submit further evidence and AK Party can submit additional defence material to the rapporteur. Then rapporteur`s report will be distributed to court members.
Later Constitutional Court Chief Judge Hasim Kilic will set a date and the court will start seeing the case on its merits.
If AK Party demands extra time for its defence, the court will also assess these demands.
According to the Constitution, at least 7 of the 11 members of the court have to vote for closure in order for the court to shut down a political party.
In line with Article 69 of the Constitution, the court may instead decide to reduce or cut the financial aid given to this political party from the Treasury.
(OZG-GC)