Turkey's ruling AKP closure case hearings set for early July

Turkey's chief prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya will deliver his verbal arguments on the closure case filed against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on July 1, Turkish TV stations reported on Tuesday.    Â

The AKP will deliver its verbal defense on July 3, the TV stations reported.                   Â

Turkey's top prosecutor filed a case against the Islamist-rooted AKP in March, and demanded the party's closure, as well as a ban on 71 officials from political activities. The prosecutor accused the AKP of becoming the "focal point of anti-secular activities", as the party's harsh response and criticism against the court raised tension in the country.    Â

 

The Constitutional Court sent the AKP defense to the top prosecutor's office on Tuesday.

 

The AKP wanted to accelerate the closure case process, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told on Tuesday at his party group meeting.

 

"Our only wish is that our country’s politics and economy will not weaken," he said.

 

The submission of the defense before the deadline is another signal that the AKP will push for a speedy legal process to avoid a prolonged uncertainty. Some media reports recently suggest the AKP has been making preparations to form a new party in the case a decision to close the party is handed down; although officials from the ruling party have been denying such reports.  Â

 

Yalcinkaya will also deliver his verbal arguments on the closure case filed against the Democratic Society Party (DTP) on June 24, and the DTP will deliver its verbal defense on June 26, the TV channels reported later on Tuesday.    Â