Parliament elects former AKP politician as Constitutional Court member

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The parliament has elected Çorum Bar Association Kenan Yaşar as a new member of the Constitutional Court among the three candidates nominated by bar association chairs.

Yaşar was the deputy provincial head and a MP candidate of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Çorum.

He will replace Celal Mümtaz Akıncı, who will retire in October, after completing his 12-year term in office.

Turkey's top court has 15 members, with the president and the parliament choosing 12 and three of them, respectively.

Among the current members, six were appointed by former President Abdullah Gül. Yaşar will be the 10th member appointed during Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's presidency.

In other words, Constitutional Court members appointed by Erdoğan now have the majority to be able to shut down a political party. A case for the closure of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which Erdoğan often accuses of "terrorism," still continues as the top court. (AEK/VK)