Turkish cabinet appoints new HSYK members as CHP applies to top court

Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ swiftly began appointing new members to the country’s top judicial body, the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), after a bill entered into force February 28 as the main opposition appealed to the top court for an annulment and stay of execution of the bill, Hürriyet Daily News reports on Friday. 

A number of HSYK members and hundreds of officials working at the high court were dismissed after the bill was published in the Official Gazette.

The law gives Bozdağ the authority to appoint the secretary-general of the HSYK and members of the disciplinary board. He appointed Serdar Mutta as acting secretary-general, five of his deputies, as well as appointments for the disciplinary board. The Cabinet also appointed Yılmaz Akçil as the head of the Justice Academy.

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) immediately made an application to the Constitutional Court early February 28 for the annulment and the stay of execution before the government moves forward and appoints new cadres to the HSYK.