Government incentives for judicial officers spark controversy

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has veiled incentives for judicial officers in the run up to a key election at Turkey’s top judicial body, prompting the main opposition party’s leader to label the incentives as a “political bribe.”

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ held a press conference on Sept. 9 to announce the details of a bill outlining various benefits for judicial officers, including amnesty of disciplinary penalties and an increase in salary.

The bill will be introduced to Parliament on Sept. 10, and General Assembly debates on the bill will most likely be finalized in October, Bozdağ said.

The bill has been met with criticism by those who portray its proposal as “an investment for the elections,” which will be held at the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) on Oct. 12. Bozdağ suggested that such criticism was merely “black propaganda.”

Speaking hours after Bozdağ’s press conference, however, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu accused the AKP government of “political bribery,” due to planned improvements of employee rights within the judiciary.

“If a judge and a prosecutor are to vote in favor of the ruling party just because that ruling party provided them financial opportunities, then they are not truly a judge and a prosecutor,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

Incentives

“A rise on an equal basis, amounting to 1,155 Turkish Liras, is outlined for the salaries of judges and prosecutors who are serving at Courts of first instance, and members of the Supreme Court of Appeals and the Council of State,” Bozdağ announced. “Judges and prosecutors at the beginning of their professions receive 3,986...