Turkish Parliamentary Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş has formally addressed the calls for a by-election issued by CHP Chairperson Özgür Özel, emphasizing that the authority to trigger such a vote rests solely with the General Assembly. The exchange highlights a growing tension between the legislative and executive branches regarding the interpretation of constitutional mandates for mid-term elections.
In a response to the opposition’s demands, Kurtulmuş clarified that the conditions for holding a by-election are strictly defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey and the Internal Regulations of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). He stressed that the Speaker’s office possesses no independent initiative to bypass these legal frameworks.
The dispute centers on whether the current political climate and the status of parliamentary seats necessitate an immediate return to the polls. Even as the CHP argues that the Constitution “commands” such a move, the parliamentary leadership maintains that the procedural requirements must first be met and approved by the lawmakers themselves.
The Legal Framework of By-Elections
Speaker Kurtulmuş’s response focused heavily on the technicality of the law, distancing his office from the political pressure to facilitate a vote. He stated, “The way a by-election can be conducted is clear in the Constitution and the Internal Regulations. When those conditions are met, it happens, but the decision-maker is the General Assembly, and it is essential for the General Assembly to make such a decision.”
By explicitly noting that “not the slightest initiative has been left to the TBMM Presidency,” Kurtulmuş is positioning the Speaker’s role as a facilitator of the law rather than a political arbiter. This legalistic approach serves as a counter-narrative to the CHP’s claim that the Speaker should take a more active, leadership-driven role in ensuring constitutional compliance.
Under Turkish law, by-elections are typically triggered when a significant number of parliamentary seats develop into vacant, provided that the time elapsed since the last general election meets specific criteria. The debate now shifts to whether the current vacancies and the political urgency described by the opposition meet the threshold required for a General Assembly vote.
Özgür Özel’s Challenge to the Executive
The push for a by-election is led by CHP Chairperson Özgür Özel, who has framed the issue as a matter of the separation of powers. During a press conference at the CHP headquarters on March 31, Özel asserted that the nation is currently in a period where the Constitution mandates such an election. He argued that the executive branch’s reluctance to entertain the idea is an infringement on legislative authority.
Özel’s critique is specifically aimed at the intersection of executive power and legislative duty. He contended that when the executive—specifically President Erdoğan—claims that by-elections are “not on the agenda,” it constitutes a political overreach. “Making a by-election is the job of the legislature,” Özel stated, describing the executive’s interference in this matter as “politically impertinent, an excess of authority, and a violation of the Constitution.”
The CHP leader’s argument rests on the premise that the legislature must remain independent and capable of fulfilling its constitutional duties without waiting for a signal from the presidency. He suggested that if the executive continues to ignore the specific articles of the Constitution regarding by-elections, it sets a dangerous precedent for the overall stability of the constitutional order.
Timeline of the By-Election Dispute
| Date/Period | Action/Event | Key Stakeholder |
|---|---|---|
| March 31 | Formal call for by-election and announcement of a “bold move” | Özgür Özel (CHP) |
| April 8 | Critique of executive interference in legislative duties | Özgür Özel (CHP) |
| April 9 | Official response citing Constitutional and Internal Regulations | Numan Kurtulmuş (TBMM) |
The Role of the Speaker and the 13-Party Coalition
Beyond the legalities of the vote, Özgür Özel has called for a shift in how Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş manages his office. The CHP leader has argued that the Speaker should move beyond a “polite and observing” demeanor to one of active responsibility, particularly in the implementation of decisions from the Constitutional Court (AYM) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
To put pressure on the Speaker’s office, Özel announced a plan to visit Kurtulmuş alongside representatives from 13 different political parties. This coalition intends to demand a more assertive stance from the Speaker in ensuring that constitutional mandates are not merely discussed but executed.
The opposition’s strategy is to transform the by-election request from a partisan demand into a broader movement for “constitutional compliance.” By involving a wide array of parties, the CHP aims to demonstrate that the desire for a mid-term check on power is shared across the political spectrum, thereby making it harder for the General Assembly to dismiss the request on purely political grounds.
What This Means for Turkey’s Political Stability
The current standoff reflects a deeper struggle over the “separation of powers” in Turkey. For the CHP, the by-election is not just about filling seats but about validating the legislative branch’s autonomy. For the government and the TBMM leadership, adhering to the strict letter of the law provides a shield against what they perceive as premature political maneuvering.
The outcome of this dispute depends on whether the opposition can successfully lobby enough members of the General Assembly to force a vote. If the 13-party coalition can secure a majority or a significant minority block, the technical arguments provided by Speaker Kurtulmuş may be eclipsed by political necessity.
The immediate next step will be the scheduled visit by Özgür Özel and the coalition of parties to the TBMM Speaker’s office. This meeting will determine whether the dialogue remains a formal exchange of legal interpretations or evolves into a concrete legislative push for a new election cycle.
Note: This article discusses legal interpretations of the Turkish Constitution. For official legal guidance, please refer to the Official Gazette of the Republic of Turkey.
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