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Turkish court condemns PM Erdogan | |
(40 minutes later) | |
The head of the top court in Turkey has asked prosecutors to consider whether PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan should be charged over critical comments. | |
Tulay Tugcu, head of the Constitutional Court, condemned Mr Erdogan for "threats, insults and hostility" towards it. | |
The prime minister this week again criticised a ruling that cancelled parliament's election of the president. | The prime minister this week again criticised a ruling that cancelled parliament's election of the president. |
Mr Erdogan said the ruling was "a disgrace to the justice system". | Mr Erdogan said the ruling was "a disgrace to the justice system". |
Ms Tugcu said she planned to file a complaint against Mr Erdogan following his remarks, which she said exceeded "boundaries of respect". | Ms Tugcu said she planned to file a complaint against Mr Erdogan following his remarks, which she said exceeded "boundaries of respect". |
"No-one can act outside the constitutional framework," she said. | |
A prosecutor will investigate whether there is a need for a full judicial investigation. | |
However, Mr Erdogan has political immunity and the prosecutor would have to get parliamentary permission for the judicial review. If permission is given, it could lead to charges. | |
No quorum | |
In April the main secular opposition boycotted two attempts by parliament to elect as president the candidate of the governing AK Party, which has its roots in political Islam. | In April the main secular opposition boycotted two attempts by parliament to elect as president the candidate of the governing AK Party, which has its roots in political Islam. |
The parties accused Abdullah Gul of a hidden Islamist agenda, a charge he denies. | The parties accused Abdullah Gul of a hidden Islamist agenda, a charge he denies. |
The Constitutional Court declared the presidential vote invalid, because the boycott meant there was no quorum. | The Constitutional Court declared the presidential vote invalid, because the boycott meant there was no quorum. |
Prosecutors have already investigated earlier comments by Mr Erdogan about the court's decision, including saying it had fired a "bullet at democracy". | |
The court ruling prompted the AK Party to push for the president to be directly elected by the people, rather than parliament. | |
Mr Erdogan's government also called an early general election for 22 July to try to resolve the crisis. | Mr Erdogan's government also called an early general election for 22 July to try to resolve the crisis. |
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