Kilic: Erdogan Cannot Use Leadership Authorities Any Longer

ANKARA - Constitutional Court Deputy Chief Judge Hasim Kilic said on Wednesday that Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan could not use leadership authorities any longer adding, ''his leadership came to an end automatically when he was excluded from founder membership.''
When asked whether or not Erdogan could not use leadership authorities from now on, Kilic told reporters, ''he cannot use leadership authorities any longer. His leadership came to an end automatically when he was excluded from founder membership. Therefore, we decided that it was inappropriate to take a decision about the request for precautionary measure to strip Erdogan off his party leadership because his leadership has already come to an end.''
When asked whether or not the Constitutional Court recognized Erdogan's party leadership, Kilic said, ''the Constitutional Court, of course, does not recognize his leadership.''
Responding a question about the closure case against the AK Party, Kilic told reporters, ''as you know, the case is not a closure case any longer. It is about depriving the AK Party of financial aid of the Treasury. The case will be brought onto agenda of the Constitutional Court after defenses of the sides are completed.''