Erdoğan praises parliament for 'historic' vote on immunities
16:49, 20/05/2016, Friday
Yeni Şafak
President Erdoğan says Turkish citizens don't want to see criminals in parliament
Erdoğan said the parliamentary vote on lifting immunities on lawmakers in Turkish parliament was historic.
“My people do not want to see guilty lawmakers in this parliament," Erdoğan said in a meeting at Rize Chamber of Commerce.
Erdoğan remarks came shortly after the parliament voted in favor of lifting immunity from prosecution of the MPs who were found guilty by the country's law enforcement authorities.
Parliament on Friday approved two articles to make a constitutional change that allows lawmakers to be prosecuted.
The new regulation was backed by 376 MPs in the 550-seat legislature, which means it will become law directly without being put to a referendum.
Erdoğan said that issue was resolved in a shortcut, adding that if the bill were sent to referendum it would get 80% percent of popular support.
“My nation knows who does what,” Erdoğan said criticizing the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) for supporting the pro-PKK Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).
He slammed CHP for voting against lifting immunities in the first round vote of the parliament.
“They did not support the bill first, however they return today [from the previous stance],” said Erdoğan.
He also blamed CHP for supporting PKK terrorism along with HDP and vowed that Turkish security forces would continue the operations until the final result was acquired.
Erdoğan also lashed out at those who try to spread propaganda that there is a civil war in Turkey.
“They [international media] try to portray Turkey to the world as having a civil war. We don't have a civil war,” he said, and added that the Turkish fight against terrorism would continue.
He also recalled the CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's controversial remarks, “a presidential system in Turkey cannot be brought in without bloodshed."
“You see he speaks about shedding blood … The way of democracy in the country passes through the polls,” Erdoğan saying that the citizens are the final decision maker on issues pertaining to them.