Tüsiad, Top Business Association of Turkey Urges Parliament to Work out Banning Crisis for Elected Deputies

Turkey’s leading business association called on the Parliament on Friday to find a way to diffuse the current crisis over the Supreme Election Board, or YSK’s, decision to strip Hatip Dicle, a pro-Kurdish candidate, of his seat in Parliament.

“The events that occurred in the aftermath of the June 12 elections have begun to hamper the climate of dialogue we so desire, as well as the proper functioning of a new parliament that is expected to frame a new constitution,” read the written statement from the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association, or TÜSİAD. When all parties with representative capacity are not involved in the process, it will then be impossible for the new parliament to produce a lasting settlement regarding the freedoms of identity, religion and conscience, as well as the separation of powers, according to the statement issued by TÜSİAD.

“We believe it is necessary for the leaders of our political parties to come together under the sort of leadership … required by the current extraordinary circumstances and take steps to produce a solution by means of political dialogue and create a positive atmosphere,” said the statement.

Parliament must take confidence-building measures including a revision of the rules governing political parties, the election system and current regulations regarding the freedom of expression and of association, said the statement. TÜSİAD also urged the new parliament to define the revocation of Hatip Dicle’s deputyship as its first item on the agenda.

All political parties must take their place in parliament in accordance with the representative mandate they received from the electorate within a milieu of constructive political dialogue, TÜSİAD said.

June 24, 2011
Hürriyet Daily News