PES concerned about Turkish power reshuffle
The Party of European Socialists would like to express its concern about the thousands of suspensions in the military, in the police, in the justice system following the attempted coup in Turkey. The PES is worried the most about the debate on the re-introduction of the death penalty, initiated by the Turkish Government.
PES President Sergei Stanishev said:
“Death penalty is brutal and fundamentally unjust. We are deeply worried that the Turkish leadership is agitating the idea of re-introducing it. We call on the Turkish leadership for maximum restraint and caution in the aftermath of the ‘coup’ attempt. Any step in that direction would harm the relations between Turkey and the EU. It is a specific request for any candidate country to reject the death penalty.”
As it was made clear in the initial statement of the PES from the 16th of July in support of democracy in Turkey, the coup, should not be used as a pretext to undermine human rights.
Stanishev said: “Any attempt of a power grab through major constitutional changes will push Turkey farther away from the EU and will jeopardize a much needed reconciliation in Turkey”.
