The commission's sincerity test

The "National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission" launched in the Turkish Grand National Assembly on August 5th. At the commission's first meeting, all speakers, including the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and Commission Chair Numan Kurtulmuş, declared, "Constitutional amendments will not be on the commission's agenda." The articles concerning the procedures and principles governing the commission's working method were determined following discussions held in the commission's third session.

The working procedures and principles of the commission established in Parliament to "resolve the Kurdish issue" were largely shaped by the demands of the CHP delegation. The word "democracy" was added to the commission's name at the CHP delegation's request, and the commission's objectives were added to "work in the areas of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law." Furthermore, it was reported that the CHP also requested that decisions be made by a three-fifths majority of the total membership.

INSISTENCE ON STEP BACK FROM LEGALITY

It was stated that the addition of the clause to the commission's purpose, "To work in the areas of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law," and the decision regarding agenda setting, "The members shall determine the commission's agenda," would be used to bring Turkey's fundamental problems to the commission's agenda. It was also stated that the commission's members from the opposition party would insist on regulations that would ensure a step back from the existing unlawful practices in Turkey.

PROPOSAL FOR PREPARATION OF A LAW PROPOSAL

It was noted that ending operations targeting mayors, addressing grievances stemming from statutory decrees, complying with Constitutional Court and ECHR rulings, and safeguarding freedom of expression and the press are top of the opposition's agenda. In this context, it was stated that opposition MPs on the committee will propose draft legislation to "resolve unlawful practices in Turkey" starting with their third meeting.

A member of parliament who underlined that decisions would be taken by a qualified majority said:

The commission's agenda and the decisions it will make will be a test of sincerity for the AKP and MHP. A commission focused solely on the Kurdish issue cannot establish lasting peace. Therefore, everyone will have to shoulder the burden and take constructive steps against the agendas and proposals made under the guise of 'democracy.' A commission that turns its back on proposals to make pre-trial detention exceptional, especially those that comply with Constitutional Court and ECHR rulings, cannot pass the test of sincerity and cannot take steps toward lasting peace.

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EQUALITY AND JUSTICE IS WHAT WE NEED

DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan made a statement regarding the topics discussed at the Central Executive Committee meeting at party headquarters. Doğan stated that they found it very valuable that the first meeting of the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) was held on Tuesday, August 5th. She said, "We believe we have reached a very important juncture. This is a critical juncture. We've said before that we are at a threshold. We've shared this with you. In fact, we've said that we are at the heart of a threshold. Therefore, we've said that seriousness, effort, diligence, constructiveness of the work to be done on this issue, encompassing different segments of society, properly understanding and evaluating social sensitivities, and approaching the religious causes and root causes of problems—all of these are valuable." Doğan noted that a commission established in the TBMM cannot solve all problems alone.