ANKARA - Constitutional Court cancelled on Tuesday Article 105 of the Political Parties Act which foresaw closure of a party if that party does not take part in general elections for two times.
The Court said it took such a decision as an amendment was made in the Constitution saying that there was no need for party closure if that party does not take part in elections for two times. The Court gave a period of one year for determination of a new sanction.
Speaking to reporters at the end of the afternoon session of the Court, Bumin said that it made a preliminary assessment regarding the closure request of the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals for closure of Turkish Socialist Workers Party, Justice Party, Turkey Justice Party, Great Justice Party, Turkey Disabled Persons Party, Revolutionary Socialist Workers Party, and MotherPath Party. Chief Prosecutor had said that these parties didn't take part in the last two general elections and they had to be closed under Article 105 of the Political Parties Act.
Bumin said that they examined Article 105 of the Act in line with the amendments made in Articles 68 and 69 of the Constitution, adding that they decided to cancel Article 105 of the Political Parties Act.
Bumin said that they decided to implement the decision of cancellation after one year following its publication in the Official Gazette.
The legislation has to make a new regulation within one year. Court officials said that the parties which didn't take part in two general elections had to be punished with another sanction.
(ÖS-AÖ) 01.04.2003