Controversy over appointment of Justice Minister in Turkish Parliament, clashes and fighting among members

Ankara (Turkey). There was a huge uproar in the Turkish Parliament on Wednesday following the controversy over the appointment of the Justice Minister. The clash that started between the ruling party and opposition members turned into a fight. Members of both the parties attacked each other with fists. The incident has been mentioned in a report in the English edition of Asharq Al-Awsat, an Arabic-language newspaper published from London.

Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported that the fight broke out over the appointment of a controversial member in the cabinet reshuffle. Opposition members tried to prevent Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akin Gürlek from taking the oath as Justice Minister.

After this the members were seen pushing each other. Some even threw punches. Later, Akin Gurlek was sworn in amid tight security. After this, the Governor of Eastern Province Erzurum, Mustafa Siftsi, was also sworn in as the Interior Minister.

The government has not given any official reason for Wednesday’s cabinet reshuffle. The new appointments come as Turkiye debates potential constitutional reforms. It is also taking a peace initiative with the extremist Kurdistan Workers’ Party in order to end the decades-old conflict.