Constitutional Court

Türkiye's high court has refused an appeal by the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) for the postponement of the ongoing closure case against it until after the mid-May elections.

The strike initiated by the United Metal Workers Union at the factory of Schneider Energy in the northwestern province of Kocaeli's Çayırova has been postponed for 60 days by a presidential decree.

The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) should be closed without delay the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli said on Jan. 24 criticizing the Constitutional Court (AYM) for its planned meeting to discuss delaying the closure case until after the elections.

Tightrope

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (C), Prime Minister Ana Brnabic (L) and Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic (R), 24 September 2020. EPA-EFE/KOCA SULEJMANOVIC

A referendum will take place in Slovakia on Saturday, as citizens vote on a constitutional change that would make it possible to shorten parliament's term through a referendum or by a majority vote in the parliament. The referendum, the first in seven years, was initiated by the opposition Smer party back in 2021.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has criticized the opposition parties for declining to hold talks with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to discuss a constitutional amendment package on the use of headscarf and the protection of the family institution.

The Constitutional Court has turned down an appeal by a conservative group against the National Assembly's decision not to allow a referendum on a law codifying same-sex marriages and adoptions.

In a ruling announced on 11 January, the country's top court noted that it had found the previous solution in the family code unconstitutional on two earlier occasions.

The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) is the political wing of the PKK terror organization and it is well known by the entire country, the chief prosecutor has claimed, reiterating his demand from the top court for the permanent prohibition of the HDP.

The Constitutional Court has ruled that the refusal of the request for the return of the properties of two Armenian foundations, which had been taken over by the Treasury, violated their property rights and that a retrial should be held.

Turkey's highest court on Thursday ordered a temporary freeze on the funds of the country's pro-Kurdish party as it mulls whether to disband it over accusations of links to Kurdish militants.