* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)
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In the closure case filed against the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), the Constitutional Court has accepted the party's request for additional time to present its defense. The top court has given 60 days for the preliminary defense of the party and 30 days for the preparation of the preliminary defense of the HDP politicians facing a political ban as part of the case.
NOTE: The General Assembly of the Constitutional Court unanimously accepted the second indictment seeking the closure of the HDP and notified the indictment prepared by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation and its appendix to the party.
When the two-month time offered for the preparation of preliminary defense started, the HDP Legal Commission applied to the Constitutional Court and requested four-month additional time.
How will the process proceed?
After the additional time given by the Constitutional Court expires and the HDP presents its preliminary defense, Court of Cassation's Chief Public Prosecutor Bekir Şahin will be asked his opinion as to the accusations. This opinion will also be sent to the HDP. Then, at dates to be specified by the Constitutional Court, prosecutor Bekir Şahin will make a verbal statement and HDP officials will make a verbal defense.
Following this process, the rapporteur, who will collect information and documents about the case, will prepare a report on the merits. While this process is ongoing, the Chief Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation and HDP can submit additional evidence or defense.
After the report is handed out to the Constitutional Court members, Court President Zühtü Arslan will set a date for the meeting and, on the specified day, the members will start examining the case as to the merits.
A two-thirds majority, or votes of the 10 of 15 Constitutional Court members, are needed to close the party because of the reasons cited in article 69 of the Constitution or impose other sanctions on the party such as partially or completely depriving it of public aid. (DŞ/SD)
