ANKARA: Three lawmakers including a former minister resigned yesterday from Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) amidst a high-level bribery and corruption probe ensnaring close government allies.
The ruling party is being directed by “arrogance,” said one of the lawmakers Ertugrul Gunay, who was a former culture minister, at a news conference, adding that he was parting ways with the AKP.
Another lawmaker Erdal Kalkan announced his resignation via Twitter. “This will not end here. Our honourable people see everything,” he tweeted, referring to the corruption scandal that has involved the sons of former ministers and top businessmen.
AKP deputy Haluk Ozdalga also stepped down from the party.
The fast-moving inquiry has struck at the heart of Turkey’s ruling elites and thrown up a serious challenge to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 11 years in power. It led to a comprehensive cabinet reshuffle after the resignation on Wednesday of three ministers whose sons were implicated in the probe.
EU urges impartial probe
ANKARA: The European Union urged Turkey to address corruption allegations involving close government allies in a “transparent and impartial manner”.
“I urge Turkey, as a candidate country committed to the political criteria of (EU) accession... to take all the necessary measures to ensure that allegations of wrongdoing are addressed without discrimination or preference in a transparent and impartial manner,” EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said in a statement.
The fast-moving inquiry has struck at the heart of Turkey’s ruling elites and thrown up a serious challenge to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 11 years in power.
AFP
