23/06/2026 Session
“The annulment of an internal party Congress and the forced replacement of elected party leaders that has the effect of changing the political landscape cannot be allowed to stand,” today said Lord David Blencathra (United Kingdom, ECPA), speaking at the opening of a current affairs debate on “The functioning of the judicial system and the crackdown on the opposition in Türkiye” and referring to the court removal of the CHP leadership in Türkiye last month.
“These decisions were taken by politicised judges without any transparent legal basis,” he said.
Lord Blencathra called for the restoration of internal party autonomy and that the CHP be permitted to hold another Congress to elect their own leader completely free of government and court interference.
Encouraging member states “to speak up and condemn this unpreceded attack on democracy” he highlighted the importance of the re-establishment of domestic institutions that can command public confidence, depoliticising the judiciary, respecting the autonomy of political parties, and guaranteeing the rights to freedom of assembly and expression.
Lord Blencathra also condemned the removal of democratically elected mayors and the appointment of trustees in numerous municipalities in Türkiye as well as prosecutions of high-level political figures. He also called on Council of Europe member States to encourage more effectively Türkiye to fulfill its obligations stemming its membership in the Organisation.
No text is adopted during a current affairs debate.