Bahceli calls on Gul to take initiative to solve row between gov't and judiciary

The opposition National Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli gave support to the declaration issued by the board of chairmen of the Supreme Court of Appeals, in which the government was accused of putting pressure on judicial institutions and trying to create a pro-government judiciary. In a written statement, Bahceli yesterday said the government caused Turkey to enter a period of dangerous political polarization and made common national and moral values of the people a subject of dispute and exploitation. Stressing that the polarization period also affected public bodies, Bahceli also accused the government of trying to control the judiciary. He also called on President Abdullah Gul to take the initiative to solve the problem and said that representatives of the government and the judiciary should come together in a dialogue meeting chaired by Gul to end the dispute between the government and judicial institutions. The Council of State's chairmen board also issued a declaration yesterday and rejected claims by the government that the judiciary interfered with the politics and acted like a political party. "The judicial institutions can publicly express their opinions on constitutional or legal changes that are directly related to the judiciary and trial process, and this cannot be seen as an interference with the politics or the legislative power's field of activity." The statement also stressed that the judiciary should protect the republic and its values. In related news, Gul said he was evaluating Bahceli's offer.