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)