PM Yıldırım: “State of Emergency May Be Extended”

Click to read the article in Turkish

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım has announced that the State of Emergency (OHAL) might be extended for three more months via a resolution by the National Security Council (MGK).

The current State of Emergency will cease to have effect on April 19.

Already extended twice

Following the July 15 coup attempt, the State of Emergency Law was passed by 365 affirmative and 115 dissenting votes out of 461 MP votes.

On October 19, OHAL was extended for three more months for the first time until January 19 and on January 3, 2017 for the second time for three more months until April 19.

The referendum on the Constitutional Amendment Draft will be held on April 16.

If extended again, OHAL would be in effect for 1 year in total

Upon being asked whether OHAL would be extended for three more months, the Prime Minister coming together with international press members in Ankara today (March 9) said:

"MGK would assess whether it should be extended and it will be decided accordingly".

In case OHAL was extended for three more months, the earliest date for the OHAL to end would be July 20, 2017 and it will have been in effect for a whole year in total. (AS/DG)