Founder of Gun+Partners law firm, Chairman of Better Justice Association, Vice Chairman of TURKONFED
The 27th in the series of Symi democracy conferences organized by former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou was held on the Greek island of Skiathos between 13-17 July. The symposium with the theme “Is there hope for democracy”, to which I was invited due to our presentation of the Better Judiciary Association’s “Turkish Judicial Reform
The United Kingdom (UK) prides itself on a legal system rooted in fairness, transparency, and the rule of law. Yet beneath this polished veneer lies a troubling loophole—one that allows straying jurists to sidestep ethical duties with impunity, find creative ways to ignore international treaties and cause the UK to dishonour its undertakings under international
The rhetoric of a “new and civil constitution” and “liberation from the coup constitution,” frequently voiced by ministers appointed by President Erdoğan and AK Party officials since 12 September 2023, is not resonating with the public. The weakest point of Erdoğan’s discourse is the ambiguity regarding the reasons behind proposing a new and civil constitution.
Özgür Özel, the Chairperson of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), proposed renewing the elections in November 2025 or the spring of 2026. He stated, “If the TBMM renews the elections with 360 members’ backing, president Erdoğan will have the right to run one last time.” Separately, he promised the impossible by saying, “We will return
While not a single iota of what the AK Party intends with its rhetoric of a “new and civil constitution” is yet clear, Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç has declared that a reform strategy document concerning the judiciary, constituting roughly one-third of the constitution, is being prepared. Neither judiciary can be reformed, nor can a
Humans have to live as a society in solidarity with others for survival, security, and continuation of the species. Equity (fairness) and cooperation must be core values in these societies if these three basic objectives are to be secured. The survival and progress of societies depend on cooperation which in turn depends on equity and
On one hand the accelerating race for the local elections on March 31st seems more like a competition to get a share of the corrupt municipal pie than to serve the public. On the other, judicial authorities, not to mention the government, refuse to comply with a judicial decision just as the Court of Cassation
The game played at the highest levels of the state has come to the end long expected of it. After a series of forceless actions and decisions contrary to law, at the session of Turkey’s Grand National Assembly (TBMM) on January 30, 2024, chaired by one of the deputy & acting Speaker Bekir Bozdağ, the
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s suggestion to lower the presidential election threshold from 50+1 percent to 40+1 percent and to make it a single round, further clarifies that his easy re-election in 2028 is the main aim of the discourse on a new and civil constitution he started on the 12th of September at the Ulucanlar museum.
Turkiye’s Constitutional Court (AYM) announced in the Official Gazette on October 10, 2023 in its Keser Altıntaş decision that it will cease to review and will dismiss individual applications related to violations of the right to be tried within a reasonable time. The decision of the AYM General Council dated 25 July, with 9 in