Hürriyet Daily News published an article by Murat Yetkin headlined "Erdoğan now at odds with Constitutional Court."
"The tendency actually started before the March 30 local elections, but it has continued afterward, despite the 45 percent Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan managed to secure regardless of the corruption allegations against his government," the article reads.
"This tendency is to not leave Erdoğan unanswered. Almost everyone, even top public personalities who are either criticized or thoroughly dressed down by Erdoğan, now replies to him, no matter what the subject," the author writes.
"The latest example is Haşim Kılıç, the top judge of Turkey’s Constitutional Court," the author continues. "Right after the Constitutional Court (AYM) announced its decision to lift the government ban on Twitter, (which was accused by Erdoğan of carrying “false” information about corruption allegations to people), it was subject to criticism by the prime minister. Erdoğan had said that he knew he had to implement the decision, but he has “no respect” for such an “un-national” ruling."
"Kılıç responded to Erdoğan on every one of those criticisms and more yesterday, April 7," the article reads. "Kılıç said the AYM’s job was not to make “national rulings,” but to make rulings in accordance with universal law. He remind Erdoğan of Article 90 of the Turkish Constitution, which says that in the event of contradictions, the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights are superior to Turkish legislation."
"It is clear that Erdoğan is 100 percent determined in his actions and words that he wants to cleanse the Gülenists, not only from the bureaucracy but also from non-governmental sectors. There are signs that a real operation is on its way," Murat Yetkin believes.
"On the other hand, he wants to secure the presidency, for which elections will be held in August, either for himself or for President Abdullah Gül," the author wites. "But trying to keep his influence strong and steady with a continuous show of power until the presidential election, for which he would need 50 percent plus 1 vote, has limits. It could also backfire at some point."
"Those recent responses to Erdoğan might indicate that we are getting closer to that point," he concludes.
