Party closure case against Turkey's ruling AKP enters its final stage

"The rapporteur submitted his non-binding report to the court, and it was distributed to many of the members. The rest will receive it tomorrow (Thursday)... The working speed and shape would determine the process," Hasim Kilic told reporters in Ankara. Â

 

He did not give any date for the hearing and asked that media "leave us alone". Kilic said the date for the hearing will be decided after holding talks with all other members of the court.

 

CNNTurk reported the rapporteur, Osman Can, recommended the court not to close the party in his non-binding report. In March Can had recommended the court to reject the case after it was filed but the court decided to accept it.

 

As the AKP case entered its final stage with the submission of the report; experts, analysts and even foreign diplomats have started to bet on the date when Turkey's Constitutional Court will deliver its ruling on the critical closure case against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).Â

 

Foreign diplomats in Turkey had informed their capitals that the ruling would be delivered on Aug 5; while the former U.S. envoy to Turkey said the ruling would be announced on Friday in the third week of August.

 

The legal process against the AKP, which started in March, had been sped up to avoid a prolonged political uncertainty.Â

 

DIPLOMATS CRYPTO 

Turkish politics had been locked on the court's ruling. Turkey's chief prosecutor accuses the AKP of "being focal point of anti-secular activities", and had demanded its closure, as well as a ban on 71 party officials, including Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul.

 

Political analysts expect the party to be closed, however they underline the crucial issue of whether a political ban would be put in place for party officials, and if so, who will be included in the ban.

 

Hurriyet.com.tr reported on Wednesday foreign diplomats in Ankara have been informing their capitals with their crypto and saying the decision would be taken on either Aug 4 or 5; while the latter is seen much more likely.

 

"According to the information we receive, the Constitutional Court would hold its session on the case on August 5 at the latest. This information goes beyond speculation, because we gathered this information in our meetings with officials related to the issue," a Western diplomat told hurriyet.com.tr.

 

The Constitutional Court's members declined to specify any date on the ruling. But the court's deputy chairman, Osman Paksut, had earlier said the case could be finalized within 4-5 weeks, signaling a decision could come at the end of July or early August.

 

PARRIS' AUGURY

The former ambassador of the United States to Turkey had made a specific prediction on the date of the ruling.

 

Mark Parris said in a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington that the closure decision will be made in the second or third week of August, possibly on a Friday.

 

He added if the party is closed, this decision would have an impact on the tone of U.S.-Turkey relations and would negatively affect Turkey's EU membership process. He defined Erdogan as a "charismatic leader", adding the chances of a possible compromise are decreasing.