Baykal: "The judiciary is Democracy's safety valve"

Speaking at his Republican People's Party (CHP) parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Deniz Baykal expressed sorrow over the state of the country today, adding, "What makes us happy is a healthy democracy." Stressing that his sorrow doesn't mean that he agrees with the actions of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which now faces a closure case, Baykal said he had told AKP officials many times that to prevent instability, they should not distort the fundamental principles of the Constitution. Stating that the judiciary acts as a safety valve for democracy, the CHP leader said that the public chief prosecutor's indictment seeking the AKP's closure was not a personal matter, but an effort to protect the republic's principle of secularism. He stressed how the Constitution bars parties from using religion as a political tool as well as Turkey's unique status in the Muslim world. He also urged the AKP not to try to change the Constitution to avoid closure, adding that political parties and politicians are temporary and shouldn't try to arrange the judiciary to suit their own needs.