Ruling AKP mulls arrangement for election systems of professional chambers

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) mulls making an arrangement in the election system for professional chambers, primarily for bar associations.

"Let the boards of the chambers and organizations be determined on the 'relative' basis, not on the basis of 'majority,' let there be participation and pluralism," Hayati Yazıcı, the AKP's deputy chair responsible for political and legal affairs, said in a televised interview on May 6.

Recalling statements made by the Ankara Bar Association criticizing the chair of the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Ali Erbaş, for his remarks on homosexuality, Yazıcı said the statement was "recklessly attacking and exploiting values."

"So, do you lack the ability to use your thought and opinion, your right to criticize, without undermining the values that people believe in? If there was pluralism there, I am sure that these issues would be discussed, and if someone has a different opinion, it would be expressed and would take better decisions," he said.

The issue was also discussed at the Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting of the AKP on May 5, daily Hürriyet reported. The arrangement reportedly will be gradual and start with the bar association in the first place. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged the government to take a step on the issue immediately, the daily reported.

After the MYK meeting, the party members held two separate meetings in parliament. The first meeting was held to discuss the bar elections, while the second meeting was held for other professional associations, Hürriyet reported. In the meeting, the establishment of alternative bar associations in some provinces came up to the agenda. Alternative bar associations will be established in provinces with a high...