Turkish PM reacts against 'misbehaving' speech

ANKARA

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s reactions against a lengthy speech by the head of the Union of Bars, Metin Feyzioglu marked the 146th founding anniversary of Turkey’s highest administrative court on Saturday.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out against Feyzioglu for his one-hour long speech at the Turkish Council of State (Danistay).

“The Head of Court has spoke for 25 minutes, you have been speaking for more than an hour,’’ Erdogan said. ‘’You are misbehaving, and your statements are false,” he added.

Feyzioglu said he had a greeting to deliver during his speech, adding ‘’the salute of people who continue to live in containers in the city of Van (hit by the earthquake in 2011).’’

"You don't have the legal right to say this,’Erdogan responded. ‘’You're making a political speech, everything you said about Van is a lie."

Turkish Council of State turns 146 years old

Head of the council, Zerrin Gungor, speaking at the event on Saturday, saying ‘’Legal authorities should work in accordance with the principle of separation of powers so the judicial process can function in a healthy way.’’

Gungor said the state and the nation’s belief in justice is the most obvious evidence for allowing the Council of State to retain its existence and effectiveness for 146 years.

However, with 190,340 files still awaiting a decision, the average waiting time for a decision is three years. Gungor said the council has not reached its desired trial period. 

The Council of State's role is to make sure that officials are consistent with the law. In its capacity as an appellate court, it is entitled to review the appeals brought against the judgments given by administrative or tax courts. 

Gungor also underlined that the Council of State’s Human Rights Commission was established on February 20, 2014, to watch the European Court of Human Rights decisions, closely.

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