Parliamentary talks on constitution not broadcasted on state TV despite requests of opposition
Despite the requests of opposition parties CHP and HDP, parliamentary discussions on constitutional amendments were not broadcasted live from Turkey’s official TBMM TV (TV of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey), unlike the recent budget talks and other parliamentary talks that were previously broadcasted live.
As parliamentary talks on the controversial proposal of AKP for amending the constitution in a way to allow a shift to presidential system was launched today (January 9), disagreements over it have become even more tense.
While a large group of advocates and civil society members wanted to hold a demonstration in front of the parliament building in Ankara in order to read out a message expressing their objection to the proposed presidential system, police violently attacked the crowd using teargas, water cannon, and plastic bullets and causing some, including some of the CHP MPs, to get wounded.
The parliamentary talks, which started around the same time as the demonstrators were being dispersed near the parliament, were broadcasted live by some CHP MPs via internet.