By KUNA
Brussels : The European Union has voiced disapproval of the decision by Turkeys constitutional court that it can hear a case aimed at closing down the country’s governing AKP (Justice and Development Party).
“In EU Member States the kind of political issues referred to in this case are debated in the parliament and decided through the ballot box, not in court rooms,” said EU enlargement Commissioner Olli Rhen in a statement late on Monday.
This case, said Rehn, has revealed “a systemic error in the Turkish Constitutional framework that may need to be addressed through a Constitutional amendment.” He welcomed the government’s intention to “conduct an overhaul of the provisions that are causing problems for Turkey ‘s democracy.” Turkeys chief prosecutor recently filed a petition calling for AKP to be banned for “anti-secular activities” and 71 AKP officials, including the prime minister and president, also be banned from politics.
The EU Commissioner said such a measure may only be justified in the case of parties which advocate the use of violence or use violence as a political means to overthrow the democratic constitutional order.
“I do not see any such justification for this case,” Rehn added.