Opposition leader expresses support for women politicians in AKP defending Law no. 6284

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Meral Akşener, the President of Good (İYİ) Party spared a large part of her speech in the parliamentary group meeting of her party today (March 22) to the discussions on Law 6284 related to the prevention of violence against women.

Defending the law, she said, "Just as we do not accept the withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention, we will not allow Law no. 6284 to be discussed either."

"They tore apart İstanbul Convention one night"

"One of the issues that this government is trying to make us get used to is the putting aside of the İstanbul Convention. They tore it apart suddenly one night after agitation of some reactionary circles. They rejected the same convention that they signed themselves. Besides, they wanted to withdraw from an international convention unlawfully without a parliamentary decision. Then they waited for us to get used to this."

Akşener argued that such withdrawal from the convention has now resulted in the domestic law regulating the same issue to be discussed.

"Women in AKP are also annoyed"

The party leader added that they were not the only ones disturbed by this. She emphasized that women politicians in the Justice and Development Party (AKP) of President Erdoğan were also annoyed by the discussions.

"The Minister knows that she cannot explain such an awkward discussion to the nation. The group deputy chairperson says that she is being targeted after she said "Law no. 6284 is our red line," Akşener said.

What happened?

Erdoğan's AKP met with some smaller political parties in the previous weeks in an effort to expand their election alliance.

One of them, the New Welfare Party (YRP) included amending Law no. 6284 as one of the thirty conditions they set for joining the People's Alliance of Erdoğan's AKP, and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

YRP representatives had claimed that their request was accepted by AKP, which was refuted by the party.

During the discussions, women politicians of AKP, including Derya Yanık, the Minister of Family and Social Affairs, and Özlem Zengin, the group deputy chairperson, said that amendment of the law was out of the question.

YRP announced on Monday (March 20) that they will not be participating in any of the election alliances. (ME/PE)