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TURKEY-POLITICS
Erdogan floats lifting state of emergency after poll
ANKARA, June 8, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Turkey’s state of emergency, in place
since a failed coup two years ago, could be lifted after elections this
month, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday.
The Turkish leader, who is facing stiff opposition for presidential and
legislative polls on June 24, has previously insisted that the emergency
measures would not be lifted until the “terrorist” threat is completely
eliminated from the country.
“After the elections, we will discuss the state of emergency in detail and
there could be the question of lifting it,” Erdogan said during a televised
interview broadcast late Thursday.
Turkish courts have so far handed jail terms to more than 2,000 suspects
over the failed 2016 coup aimed at unseating Erdogan, a government minister
said this month.
Thousands of people including soldiers, police officers and judges have
been arrested in a broad crackdown since the attempted putsch.
Tens of thousands of people have also been suspended or sacked from the
public sector including teachers, police officers and judges under decrees
imposed under the state of emergency.
The opposition has accused Erdogan of using the state of emergency to
silence critics.
Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics since 2003 as prime minister
and now president, is favourite to win a second presidential mandate this
month with the enhanced powers agreed in last year’s referendum.
But analysts say his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) could lose
its overall majority to an opposition alliance.
BSS/AFP/MRI/0901 hrs