Mahir Ünal

"The Faculty of Theology is a political issue," Turkish Education Minister says

A senior ruling party official has said that the Turkish Parliament will go to recess on July 1 until Oct. 1.

"The Parliament will go to recess on July 1 after the completion of pending legislative affairs on the approval of additional budget and academic amnesty," deputy parliamentary group leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Mahir Ünal told reporters on late June 28.

The government is seeking to extend the tenure of Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler, who normally should retire due to age limitations this August.

A bill submitted to parliament stipulates extending the age limit from 67 to 72 for the chief of general staff.

A senior official of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has said a legislative bill will soon be submitted to parliament in an effort to regulate the digital platforms in line with the universal standards, such as the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA).

Turkey's AKP on July 1 submitted a long-awaited bill on animal rights to the Parliament's Speaker Office.

Under the bill, "animals will no longer be seen as products, but as life," Mahir Ünal, the party's deputy parliamentary group chair, told reporters in parliament.

Also under the bill, the sale of cats and dogs by pet shops will be banned, he said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will make changes within the party and his team in the upcoming days, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Chair Mahir Ünal said on March 23, elaborating on a possible cabinet reshuffle.

United States officials' statements over Pastor Andrew Brunson harm U.S.-Turkey relations, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesperson Mahir Ünal said, stating such statements "would not scare Turkey."

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesperson Mahir Ünal has refuted the latest discussion on the possibility of rescheduling local elections, adding that the ruling party has no such agenda. 

Mahir Ünal, the spokesman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), has denied accusations directed by opposition parties against the Anadolu Agency and the Supreme Board of Election (YSK), saying there is "no suspicion" in the initial election results.

Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will announce its candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections on May 25, AKP spokesman Mahir Ünal said on May 10.