Dutch EP rapporteur Oomen-Ruijten: Erdogan's International plot claims ‘pure nonsense'

Dutch EP rapporteur Oomen-Ruijten: Erdogan's International plot claims ‘pure nonsense'.TZ-Cihan

A government corruption scandal is still dominating the Turkish political scene and European authorities continue to criticize the way the government has handled the investigations so far.

Ria Oomen-Ruijten, a member of the European Parliament and the EP rapporteur on Turkey, said the recent events have shaken the image of Turkey, not just in Europe but all around the globe, the result being “an absolute bad image.”

Calling the international conspiracy theories crafted by the government and pro-government newspapers to explain the corruption allegations “pure nonsense,” the Dutch Christian Democrat warned that people in Europe were fast losing their confidence in Turkish politicians' will to really create a modern, democratic country.

In an exclusive interview with Today's Zaman, Oomen-Ruijten said that the Turkish government should refrain from interfering in judicial proceedings and let the investigations continue. Commenting on the removal of hundreds of police chiefs and the halting of the second corruption investigation, she warned the government to respect the independence of the judiciary and the principle of the separation of powers. “These are the main articles of the Constitution and the government should abide by them,” she insisted.

Oomen-Ruijten has already completed the draft of her report on Turkey and the draft is expected to be voted on at the EP plenary at the end of February.

Reacting to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's characterization of Prosecutor Muammer Akkaş as a “disgrace,” the EP rapporteur noted that combating corruption was of utmost importance for the good functioning of the rule of law “whether politicians like it or not.” She said she was very concerned about interference in investigations and reiterated that the process should be carried out independently and impartially. Warning on HSYK

Reacting to government plans to change the law related to the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) that was already amended just three years ago, Oomen-Ruijten warned both the prime minister and the minister of justice not to change it again. Noting that she had applauded amendments made back in 2010, she said, “It is not up to a prime minister or a minister of justice, now, to try to change the council that was already amended only three years ago simply because the changes gave judges and prosecutors too much independence.” She underlined that the whole point of the 2010 referendum was to make the council independent, and apparently some politicians are now complaining that it has become too independent. Oomen-Ruijten also said she had just visited the HSYK two months ago and emphasized that they are “doing a good job.”

Foolish image

Reiterating her concern about the principle of the separation of powers, she called on the government not to block investigations. “If the government does not pay attention to the principle of the separation of powers, it will be giving a foolish image to the outside world,” Oomen-Ruijten said.

When asked about the government's decision to close one of the gold mines of businessman Akın İpek, who owns the Bugün daily -- a move that raised suspicions that İpek was punished because of Bugün's critical coverage of the corruption investigation -- Oomen-Ruijten said Turkey is a candidate country to the EU, where the rule of law is the basic principle. “This does not fit at all in a full-fledged democracy. In the EU, what binds us is the rule of law; this does not fit in there. I do not know what he [the prime minister] wants to do, but all the speeches are not just for domestic consumption; they are also consumed in the outside world. This should not be forgotten,” she said.

Oomen-Ruijten also said the perception in Europe about the latest events in Turkey has been quite “bad.” She added that those who had been saying that Turkey would never be a democratic country have started to claim that the latest events have vindicated them. “I cannot even convince my good friends about what is going on in Turkey. They listen but they do not believe my arguments anymore. That is the problem. Turkey was on a good path toward democratization, but after all these events and press stories, how can I possibly convince my friends that Turkey is on the right path? Confidence is melting,” she said.

She added that the allegations of corruption would definitely be reflected in the progress report she has been drafting on Turkey and that a number of paragraphs would be rewritten.(SELÇUK GÜLTAŞLI, BRUSSELS - TZ-Cihan )