Trkiye without terrorism and legal package dominates Parliament's agenda

The General Assembly of Parliament will meet on Wednesday after a day's break for Republic Day. A busy schedule awaits lawmakers who will discuss Turkey's next state budget and the ninth legal package, an omnibus bill that mainly covers judicial regulations. Elsewhere, party leaders will deliver their weekly speeches in parliamentary groups.

All eyes will certainly be on President Recep Tayyip Erdoan as he is scheduled to address his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) counterpart for a critical speech. Media reported on Monday that Erdoan would focus on the terrorism-free initiative of the AKP-led People's Alliance and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). According to a report in the Hrriyet newspaper, Erdoan will chart a new course on this issue during his speech on Wednesday.

MHP leader Devlet Baheli made headlines last week when he called on the government to pave the way for the parole of Abdullah Calan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK terrorist group. Baheli told a parliamentary meeting that Calan should be allowed to speak in parliament to call on his group to lay down their arms in a bid to end the PKK's decades-long campaign of violence. Although the call was nothing out of the ordinary, the name behind it surprised many, as Baheli is known for his tough stance against the PKK and past calls for the execution of Calan. His call received support from Erdoan, who described it as a historic window of opportunity. Erdoan, however, did not elaborate on the issue, while Baheli reiterated that his position on eradicating terrorism had not changed, especially after the PKK attack in Ankara two days after his remarks.

The president himself was the architect of what is informally called the reconciliation process aimed at ending the PKK. The process failed due to the terrorist group's renewed campaign, which sought to find common ground with groups close to the group to force the PKK to surrender. Although Erdoan's governments improved the rights of the Kurdish community (something the PKK claimed to be fighting for), the process apparently collapsed and has not been on the government's agenda for a long time.

Ninth legal package

Parliament will discuss a proposal for legal amendments covering judicial issues. The omnibus bill known as the Ninth Legal Package provides for changes in the admission of future judges and prosecutors to the profession as well as the sales of impounded vehicles not recovered by their owners within a predefined period. The bill also aims to regulate the profession of arbitrator, which helps courts overwhelmed by a heavy workload. Arbitrators will have to be graduates of a law school under the new amendments.

The package also proposes modified penalties for the crime of insult via broadcast, print and social media. Crime will be excluded from the list of offenses that can be settled amicably by arbitrators. Instead, violators will benefit from a clause where charges against them can be dropped if they pay a fine.

Budget discussions

Another important discussion in Parliament will be the 2025 budget. It will discuss both its own budget and that of other state institutions.

According to the 2025 budget submitted to Parliament, Trkiye allocated 584 billion TL ($17.03 billion) for earthquake-related expenses, or about 0.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). The government and economists had previously estimated the total cost of earthquake relief and reconstruction in the affected southern provinces at more than $100 billion.

The debate on the budget proposal in Parliament began last Tuesday and is expected to last around two months.

Excluding earthquake-related spending, the budget deficit is expected to reach 2.2% of GDP, Vice President Cevdet Ylmaz said last week. The budget projects expenditures of TL 14.73 trillion and revenues of TL 12.8 trillion for 2025. This would result in a budget deficit equivalent to 3.1 percent of GDP. The government allocated 1.57 trillion TL for investments, which represents 10.7% of the planned spending. Key highlights of the proposal include substantial allocations to education, defense, health care and infrastructure. Around 2.18 trillion TL is reserved for the education sector, including higher education. Given heightened regional tensions and continued focus on national security, the government plans to allocate TL 1.61 trillion for defense and security spending in 2025. Around TL 2.44 trillion is for the care of health, as well as 651 billion TL to social assistance and support programs.

In addition, the budget includes TL 1.93 trillion for broader social spending, which includes subsidies for natural gas, electricity and measures such as minimum wage tax exemption. Around TL 706 billion is expected to be allocated to the agricultural sector, to support farmers and rural development initiatives. The budget will also set aside 561 billion TL for real support of the sector.

The Sabah Daily News Bulletin

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