Intensive work will be carried out this week in the General Assembly and committees of the Turkish Parliament. Following the cancellation of CHP’s 38th Congress, the election of the party’s leader Özgür Özel as Group Chairman, and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s appointment as Chairman through an 'absolute nullity' decision, debates continue regarding CHP group meetings in the Parliament.
Özgür Özel, who continues his work in the Parliament, addressed party members at the group meeting held last Tuesday and stated that there would be no group meeting this week as he would be in Manisa on the anniversary of Ferdi Zeyrek’s death. However, CHP Spokesperson Müslim Sarı announced that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu will speak at this week’s CHP group meeting.
Consequently, attention has turned to how the group meeting will be organized in the meeting hall, with focus on Tuesday as was the case last week. Other parties will also hold group meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Parliament. The AKP group meeting is also expected to take place on Wednesday.
CONTINUATION OF OMNIBUS BILL DEBATES IN THE PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY On Tuesday, the General Assembly is expected to continue discussions on the Omnibus Bill, which includes regulations on alcohol and provisions banning housing cooperatives from acquiring ownership of agricultural lands, as well as amendments to the Soil Protection and Land Use Law, the Rice Law, and some other laws.
The omnibus bill, consisting of 30 articles, began discussions last week, with the first five articles approved. According to the approved articles, the distance of rice cultivation areas from residential zones is redefined in the Rice Cultivation Law. Rice fields must be located at least 500 meters from city and district centers’ zoning boundaries, and 50 meters from villages and neighborhoods.
Producers, importers, or marketers of alcoholic beverages are prohibited from supporting any events or publications in any media using their trade names, product brands, emblems, logos, or any expressions, shapes, names, signs, and visuals on product packaging.
The names, brands, logos, and emblems of alcoholic beverages or companies producing, importing, and marketing them, as well as expressions, shapes, names, signs, and visuals on packaging, cannot be displayed inside or outside workplaces, in shop windows, sales units, or at any event venues.
Fermented alcoholic beverage brands cannot be used as distilled alcoholic beverage brands and vice versa. The authority to impose administrative sanctions for violations of the nationwide retail alcohol sales ban between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM will be transferred to local administrative authorities.
Retailers selling alcoholic beverages will be given a one-year period from the enforcement date to comply with the new regulations.
BAN ON HOUSING COOPERATIVES ON AGRICULTURAL LANDS The bill includes provisions to prohibit cooperatives from acquiring ownership or limited real rights on agricultural lands to protect these lands. However, cooperatives engaged in agricultural activities will require permission from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for such acquisitions. Sanctions will be applied for land use violations on agricultural lands, and regulations will prevent the provision of electricity, water, and natural gas services to unauthorized structures on agricultural lands.
Any structure or facility built without permission will not be connected to electricity, water, or natural gas by relevant authorities and institutions.
Authorities and institutions violating this provision will face an administrative fine of 100,000 Turkish Lira per subscriber. If agricultural land use plans and projects are violated, an administrative fine of 2,500 Turkish Lira per square meter of damaged land, with a minimum of 1,000 Turkish Lira, will be imposed.
Additionally, the bill proposes regulations on the sale and leasing of immovables owned or co-owned by the State Hydraulic Works (DSİ), revisions to disciplinary penalties for veterinarians, and increases in disciplinary fines.
It also includes provisions for establishing carbon sink forests, allowing 2/B applications on certain lands, extending deadlines for projects by DSİ under the Electricity Market Law, prohibiting sugar beet cultivation without contracts and permits, and requiring permission for companies to procure sugar beets outside designated cultivation areas.
The aim is to complete the omnibus bill discussions this week. NEW BILL TO BE DISCUSSED IN COMMISSION The 17-article Expert Non-Commissioned Officer Law and Amendments to Some Laws bill, submitted by the AKP last week, is expected to be discussed in the National Defense Commission. The bill aims to improve the personal rights of Turkish Armed Forces personnel and provide public employment for contracted non-commissioned officers.
Accordingly, non-commissioned officers and privates with at least seven years of service and under 41 years old as of the application date may be employed as enforcement and protection officers, neighborhood watchmen, forest guards, administrative supervision personnel, security personnel, municipal police officers, or firefighters in public institutions and organizations.
With changes to the Turkish Armed Forces Personnel Law, officers who leave the TAF for any reason, except those performing military service, will no longer be able to serve again as active duty within the Armed Forces.
For personnel in critical positions within the Ministry of National Defense’s central, provincial, and overseas organizations, Gendarmerie, Coast Guard, Police, and National Intelligence Organization, as well as military and law enforcement students and candidates, final court decisions will be required before reinstating those dismissed due to alleged terrorist links.
The bill will be discussed this week in the National Defense Commission. REVIEW OF REPORTS ON PENAL INSTITUTIONS Academics will present reports in the commission established to investigate school attacks in Kahramanmaraş and Şanlıurfa.
The Human Rights Inquiry Commission’s Subcommittee on the Rights of Convicts and Detainees will review inspection reports on Niğde E-Type Penal Institution and Niğde Open Penal Institution Workshop, İzmir Penal Institutions, and Eskişehir Penal Institution. Additionally, a roadmap will be set for future inspections of penal institutions.
