Stripping three MPs of lawmaker status unconstitutional: CHP leader

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has slammed the stripping of the parliamentary status of three opposition lawmakers, calling it a blatant breach of the Turkish constitution and accusing the government of disregarding the people's will.

"These people were allowed to enter the elections as no legal obstacle was found before them. What happened now and you've made this decision? This is against the constitution," Kılıçdaroğlu told his parliamentary group on June 9.

"According to the constitution, the fulfillment of a provision about a lawmaker is delayed until the end of the legislative year. In this case, the concerned lawmaker is re-elected to parliament, his immunity can only be lifted through a vote," he added.

Kılıçdaroğlu's statement was a reaction to the removal of the parliamentary status of Enis Berberoğlu of the CHP and Leyla Güven and Musa Farisoğulları from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

Parliament Speaker Mustafa Şentop had defended the move as the stripping of the parliamentary status of these lawmakers was "obligatory" as the Supreme Court of Appeals had upheld court decisions about them.

"The removal of their parliamentary status is a blow against the people's will. Why have people gone to vote to elect their representatives? We will continue to defend democracy," Kılıçdaroğlu said.

Recalling the reports about the work launched by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) to overhaul the entire election system so that small parties with less than five percent of votes will not be able to enter parliament although they are part of a political alliance, Kılıçdaroğlu said "The best thing they know is to conspire plots against their dissidents. Whatever you do, you...