Turkey’s Erdogan, alliance partner agree to lift state of emergency: Report
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his alliance partner have agreed not to extend the controversial state of emergency, which has been in place since the 2016 abortive coup and will expire next month.
Turkey’s Daily Sabah said Thursday that Erdogan and the national MHP leader Devlet Bahceli agreed to lift the state of emergency when the current three-month period expires in July.
Erdogan and Bahceli held a meeting on Wednesday, with sources saying that Erdogan could give the MHP cabinet posts, rewarding their support for his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in parliament.
“In the talks, agreement was reached not to extend the state of emergency,” the daily said without providing details.
Erdogan, who won Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24, had earlier pledged to lift the state of emergency if he was re-elected.
“This state of emergency is a security measure to rescue these regions which are under terror threats… Inshallah, after June 24 our first work will be to lift the state of emergency if I maintain my position,” Erdogan said in mid-June.
Erdogan won 53 percent of the vote in Sunday’s presidential vote, extending his 15-year grip on power with vastly expanded authority over the legislature and judiciary narrowly backed by Turks in a referendum last year.
The state of emergency was initially imposed following the failed coup in the country on July 15, 2016. Since then, it has already been extended three times.
The state of emergency allows the president and cabinet to bypass parliament in passing new laws and to limit or suspend rights and freedoms as they deem necessary.
Critics say the rule has also allowed the government to launch a harsh crackdown on those believed to have played a role in the failed coup.
Ankara has ordered the arrest of 160,000 people and dismissal of nearly the same number of civil servants.
Turkey views US-based opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen as the mastermind of the abortive coup. Those arrested or dismissed in the ensuing crackdown campaign are charged with having links to Gulen.
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