Constitutional court to begin deliberations on AKP closure case next monday

The Constitutional Court will begin deliberations on the closure case against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) next Monday, it announced yesterday. Under the Constitution, a qualified majority of votes of the court is required to disband a political party, meaning at least seven out of 11 of the court's members. In lieu of dissolution, the court could also rule to deny the AKP financial assistance from the Treasury. This March the Court of Appeals chief prosecutor filed the case asking Turkey's top court to ban the AKP for alleged anti-secular activities. In his indictment, the chief prosecutor also asked that 71 people, including President Abdullah Gul, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and former Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, be banned from politics for five years. Earlier, court rapporteur Osman Can recommended that the court reject the case. Chief Justice Hasim Kılic said yesterday that the court members would consider the case until they reach a decision.