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Bilkent Hukuk Kulübü Hosted
Panel on 2007 Presidential Election |
On February 28, Bilkent Hukuk Kulübü held its fourth Wednesday discussion
of the semester, which was on the approaching presidential election. The moderator of the
panel was Prof. Hikmet Sami Türk, who is the former Minister of State, Justice, and
National Security, and also a professor in the Faculty of Law at Bilkent University. The
panelists were: Mr. Atilla Kart, The Republican People's Party (CHP) Konya MP and former
attorney; Mr. Vural Savaş, former Chief Public Prosecutor of the Republic of the High
Court of Appeals; Mr. Saffet Arıkan Bedük, True Path Party (DYP) deputy leader, former
MP, and governor and the General Director of Security; and Mr. Süleyman Sarıbaş,
Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) Malatya MP and deputy chair of the parliament group and former
attorney.
In his opening words, Prof. Türk presented the constitutional and legal procedures of the
presidential election, as it is performed by the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Prof.
Türk also analyzed past presidential elections starting from 1938 though 2000.
He made remarks on the style and tradition of presidential elections in Turkey, the
parliament meeting and decision thresholds, and also spoke about the legal and political
background of presidential elections. After his introductory remarks, every speaker was
given fifteen minutes for their speeches and in the second round, five minutes for their
additional comments.
Mr. Vural Savaş, as the former chief public prosecutor of the Republic, talked about the
party banning trials and the reasons for doing so in the past, as well as economic, social
and educational prerequisites for a state to be fully democratic and his views on this
year's presidential election. Mr. Atilla Kart talked about the importance of the
presidential election in 2007 and the policy of CHP regarding the election. Mr. Saffet
Arıkan Bedük examined the domestic and international issues at stake, and expressed his
views that the presidential election must seek a consensus, rather than being a partisan
election. Mr. Süleyman Sarıbaş challenged the current presidential election system in
Turkey and argued that the President of the Republic should be elected by the voters with
a two-round election.
In the final round, the students addressed their questions to the panelists and the panel
concluded with cocktails.
Erkan Bayır (MBG/III)
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