Six more clauses from the constitutional reform package have passed through the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).
Collective Bargaining
The amendment of article 53 on the "Right to Collective Bargaining" has passed by 336 to 70 votes, one vote was invalid, one MP abstained from voting.
The amendment grants the right to collective bargaing to civil servants and other public officials. The parties can apply to the Public Service Board in case of conflicts. The board's decisions will be binding and equivalent to collective bargaining.
Right to strike and lockout
Article 54 on the "Right to Strike and Lockout" will no longer hold labour unions liable for any material damage caused in a work-place where the strike is being held, as a result of deliberately negligent behaviour by the workers and the labour union. Politically motivated strikes and lockouts, solidarity strikes and lockouts, occupation of work premises, labour go-slows, and other forms of obstruction shall not be prohibited any more.
The proposal was accepted with 335 to 69 votes. Three MPs abstained from voting, one vote was invalid.
Closure of political parties
The amendments regarding clause 8 of the constitutional reform package concerned with article 69 has passed with 337 to 72 votes. Five MPs abstained from voting.
Some members of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) who had not participated in the preceding votes attended the ballot for this article, namely Perivan Buldan, Sebahat Tuncel, Ayla Akat Ata, Hamit Geylani and Bengi Yıldız.
According to the amendment of article 69 on the Principles to be Observed by Political Parties, the financial auditing of political parties shall be done by the Court of Auditors.
In summary, the dissolution of political parties shall be finally decided by the Constitutional Court after the request of the office of the Chief Public Prosecutor of the Republic. A commission shall be established consisting of five members of each party represented in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. This commission has to approve the law suit by a secret majority vote of two thirds.
The commission will be lead by the TBMM President who will not be entitled to vote. The decisions of the commission will be independent of the judiciary. The commission shall be established within 30 days of the request for permission to dissolve a party and the decision of the commission shall be issued within 60 days after the request of permission has been submitted to the Parliament. The group of representatives of the political parties in the parliament is not entitled to discuss the permission request or to decide on it.
The political ban imposed to party members based on statements and activities related to the party in case of the closure of that party shall be reduced from five to three years.
Public Auditorship
Article 74 on the "Right of Petition" was amended as follows: A "Public Auditorship" (ombudsman) institution shall be created. The institution will be established under the TBMM Presidency and shall investigate complaints regarding the functioning of the administration. The public chief auditor shall be elected by the TBMM in a secret vote for the duration of four years.
334 MPs voted in favour of the proposal, 70 against. Two MPs abstained from voting.
Loss of membership of the parliament
The last paragraph of article 84 on "Loss of Membership of the Parliament" will be lifted. The application for the loss of membership of the parliament will be abrogated.
The proposal was accepted by 335 to 70 votes and three abstentions from voting.
General Administration Board
The amendment of article 94 regarding the General Administration Board determines the duration of the first term in the Parliamentary General Administration Board for two years. The duration of the second term shall last until the end of the referring legislative period.
The amendment was passed through parliament by 338 to 70 votes, one vote was invalid. (TK/VK)
