A fight broke out in the Turkish Parliament after a dispute between two parties over the appointment of the Minister of Justice
A fight broke out in the Turkish Parliament on Wednesday, after a dispute between representatives from the ruling party and the opposition over the appointment of a controversial figure in the Ministry of Justice in a ministerial reshuffle.
Opposition lawmakers tried to prevent Istanbul Prosecutor Akin Gorlik, who was appointed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the highest judicial position, from taking the oath in Parliament.
As tensions escalated, lawmakers were seen shoving each other, with some exchanging punches.
As Istanbul’s chief prosecutor, Gurlik oversaw high-profile prosecutions against several members of the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) — proceedings that the opposition has long denounced as politically motivated.
The former prosecutor was later seen taking the oath surrounded by ruling party lawmakers.
Erdogan also appointed Mustafa Çiftçi, governor of the eastern Erzurum province, as Minister of the Interior.
Hundreds of officials from municipalities run by the CHP have been arrested in corruption investigations.
They included Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, widely seen as Erdogan’s main rival, who was arrested last year. The government insists that the judiciary operates independently.
No official reason was given for Wednesday’s changes, although the Official Gazette said outgoing ministers had “requested to be relieved” of their duties.
New appointments are coming Türkiye is discussing Possible constitutional reforms and the pursuit of a peace initiative with the extremist Kurdistan Workers’ Party, aimed at ending the decades-long conflict.
Parliament is expected to approve reforms to support the process.
