ANKARA: Turkey’s parliament in Ankara witnessed a physical altercation among several lawmakers. The tensions erupted when opposition representatives attempted to prevent Akın Gürlek, the new Minister of Justice, from taking his oath. The incident occurred during the session to swear in new cabinet members, where representatives from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) clashed with members of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) over Gürlek’s appointment. Opponents argue that during his tenure as Chief Prosecutor of Istanbul, Gürlek oversaw controversial cases against prominent opposition figures, including the Mayor of Istanbul. Based on published images and videos, the verbal dispute escalated into shoving and punching among some representatives, briefly halting the session. Despite the turmoil, Akın Gürlek ultimately took his oath with the support of ruling party members. Political observers note that this event reflects the growing political divisions in Turkey, especially amid ongoing discussions about the independence of the judiciary and new appointments within the cabinet.
