Constitutional Court rapporteur requests HDP indictment to be accepted

Assigned with examining the second indictment seeking the closure of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), the rapporteur has demanded that the indictment issued by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Court of Cassation be accepted by the Constitutional Court.

The rapporteur has examined the indictment and requested that the top court accept it. As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the rapporteur has indicated that the related procedural deficiencies cited as the reason for returning the first indictment have been eliminated. The report prepared by the rapporteur has been handed out to the court members.

The Constitutional Court will reportedly make the first examination of the second indictment against the HDP on June 21 at 10 a.m.

During the first examination, the General Assembly of the Constitutional Court will also review the request for political ban and for a cautionary judgement on the party’s bank account.

Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation Bekir Şahin said the indictment seeking the HDP’s closure demands a political ban for 451 HDP politicians and a cautionary judgement on the party’s bank account.

“We have prepared the HDP indictment and referred it to the Constitutional Court. The following process is under the authority of the Constitutional Court. There is a 15-day examination period,” said Şahin.

If the indictment is accepted, it will be submitted to the HDP for a preliminary defense. The HDP is to submit its preliminary defense within the period of time determined by the Constitutional Court. If an additional time is requested, it is possible to extend this period.

Chief Public Prosecutor Bekir Şahin will present his opinion on the merits after a preliminary defense is submitted.

The opinion will first be sent to the HDP. Then the Chief Public Prosecutor will make an oral statement, and HDP officials will make an oral defense on the dates specified by the Constitutional Court.

Later the constitutional rapporteur will prepare his report on the merits. The Constitutional Court members will meet on a determined day to discuss the closure case.

The decision will be made by a court delegation consisting of 15 members. A two-thirds majority which comprises votes of the 10 out of 15 court members is needed to shutter the party.