The report by the Constitutional Court rapporteur has concluded that the court itself should decide whether or not to close the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The members of the court will meet for preliminary examination today (31 March), and will then decide whether to accept the indictment as it stands or hand it back.

The possibility of a trial has raised tensions on the political scene. AKP representatives had indicated that they may amend the constitution in order to make party closure more difficult. The current operation against the ultranationalist Ergenekon organisation, said to have planned a coup against the government, has raised tensions even higher between the AKP and the opposition parties.

Call for prudence 

It was in the light of this tension that the Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businesspeople (TÜSIAD) made a call for everyone “to take a step backwards.” This call was then picked up by seven workers’ and employers’ organisations. The essence of the call was that the economy, and thus all sections of society, would suffer from continued political tension.

However, both Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan from the AKP and Deniz Baykal, chair of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) have indicated that they do not understand the call.

Erdogan replied by saying that “I think and then take steps”, adding that he had waited five years to allow headscarves at universities.

Criticism from the left 

Levent Tüzel of the Labour Party (EMEP) said in a statement, “What do the people gain from prudence and compromise?”, criticising the collaboration of workers and employers for the benefit of capitalism.

Ufuk Uras, MP for the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) said that the current debate was unhelpful. He called for a constitutional reform which would develop freedoms and democracy. (EÜ/AG)