Turkish PM raises stakes, calls for lifting of all immunities

In a move likely to alter an ongoing fierce debate over stripping the legislative immunity of members of Turkey's Kurdish problem-focused party, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has proposed parliament lift the immunity from prosecution for all lawmakers and collectively review the 506 outstanding dossiers. 

Davuto?lu's proposal found swift support both from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) which has long called for the removal of immunities for all members of the national assembly, except for "podium immunity," meaning members of parliament shall not be liable for their votes and statements during parliamentary proceedings and for the views they express before the assembly.

"Come, let's all together lift all immunities. Namely, our call today [is about] lifting all immunities regarding 506 files of summaries of proceedings waiting at parliament without making any distinction between any party. AK Parti [the ruling Justice and Development Party - AKP] does not have any file to avoid. We don't get cold feet at all," Davuto?lu said on March 17, in response to questions from reporters, referring to the fact that there are summaries of proceedings sent to parliament for lifting the immunities of his ruling AKP deputies too.

Dubbing the opposition parties' call for the lifting of all immunities "fake challenges," Davuto?lu urged for a swift response from the opposition, suggesting they could finalize the issue in only one session.

"I'm waiting for their responses by the evening. While going to Brussels, we will take a stand according to their responses. No matter what their response is, we will take it to parliament and we will see their stances,"...