Baykal: PM’s reaction wrong

Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal criticized today Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s reaction to a statement made by Chief Judge of Supreme Court Ozyurek, noting that it was wrong to expect a Chief Justice to make statements in accordance with a PM’s wishes.

Speaking in Izmir, Baykal said that PM should heed the warnings and not to react to recommendations, and claimed such attitude would damage democratic progress.

He also criticized Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s statement that government would OK sending troops to Iraq if the military approved it, noting that Parliament and the government were constitutionally authorized to take such decisions, not any other body.