The final countdown
Set for Oct. 25 launch, will Aksener’s ‘unknown’ party change political debate?
The countdown has begun for the new party, whose name is not yet known, logos not yet shown, and regulations and program that Meral Aksener will follow not yet announced. But all are coming soon. The logo, name, bylaw, program and founders’ committee of the new party, which Aksener defines as ‘Turkey’s Party,’ will be announced in Ankara on Oct. 25. It is believed that former Central Bank President Durmus Yilmaz is working on the party program. Retired ambassador Cevher Cevheri, Cigdem Ozer, the granddaughter of well-known minstrel Asik Veysel, and former minister Suat Caglayan are among the names in the founders’ committee. It is wondered how the new party will mobilize Turkish politics. Although it is said the party will embrace all segments of society and be positioned in the center, the names of suggested party members mostly appear to be those who have parted from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), raising a question mark over its center-based rhetoric. It is stated that Aksener’s party, which will breathe into political life on Oct. 25, will not bring so much heat to politics as has been expected.
2018 budget calendar determ ned
The schedule for the 2018 state budget to be presented to Parliament on Oct. 17 has begun to take shape. Finance Minister Naci Agbal is scheduled present the annual budget on Oct. 24, with debate over its content scheduled to start on Oct. 30. However, the parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission will finalize the draft bag law before the budget negotiations and the draft will be sent to Parliament.
5th extens on of OHAL later th s week
The State of Emergency (OHAL), which was extended for the 4th time on July 19, is due to end on Oct. 19. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signaled that OHAL will continue in the opening speech of the new legislative year in Parliament. Following the recommendation of the National Security Council, it is expected that an OHAL note will be sent to Parliament by the Prime Ministry this week. OHAL will then be extended for the 5th time following a parliamentary vote before Oct. 19. Neither the Republican People’s Party (CHP) nor the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) support OHAL, which has the backing of by the MHP.
TL 5 b ll on amnesty n bag law
CHP Istanbul deputy Aykut Erdogdu has said that TL 5 billion of the public debt of the three main telecom companies (Turk Telekom, Turkcell and Vodafone) in Turkey will be virtually canceled via the bag law. “As a consumer (subscriber), we pay a 15% Treasury Share to be paid to the Treasury through the bills we pay to these companies every month. It is estimated that treasury has approximately TL 5 billion in unpaid bills by 2017. The government is bringing a kind of amnesty over this amount,” he said.