Davutoglu: has admitted that Turkey needed to do more to upgrade its democracy.
Advertisement
The report was pushed back three weeks so it did not coincide with the election or sensitive negotiations with Turkey over stemming the flow of refugees and migrants into the EU.
The report said that after several years of improvements on freedom of expression, there was now “serious backsliding seen over the past two years”.
According to AP, the report’s release was delayed so as not to affect the last week’s elections in Turkey. Yet, such considerations did not stop the European Union from criticizing Ankara.
A new constitution would help fix a system that creates tension between the president and the prime minister, Davutoglu said in an interview with state broadcaster TRT.
The impact in the town of Dargecit in Mardin territory came after late on Tuesday three policemen were killed in the town of Silopi, close to the Iraqi and Syrian borders, when Kurdish militants opened fire on their vehicle, authorities said.
Hahn also said judicial independence was crucial for investors. “Substantial efforts are needed to restore the independence of the judiciary”.
The report’s key conclusions can be read on the Commission’s official website.
But the Commission said the report “emphasises an overall negative trend in the respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights”, adding that “significant shortcomings affected the judiciary as well as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly”.
It slammed the “increased pressure” on the media in conjunction with the November elections and limitations on the use of the Internet.
Mr Erdogan argues that Turkey needs an executive presidency similar to that of the United States or Russian Federation, while his critics fear that will consolidate more power in the hands of an authoritarian leader who brooks little dissent. Dozens of users have faced accusations of “insulting the president” including an industrial designer and former Miss Turkey earlier this year.
A former political science professor and newspaper columnist, Davutoglu has been unable to step out of Erdogan’s shadow, even though the presidency is traditionally a largely ceremonial role.
Advertisement
Five members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and one soldier were killed in clashes in Silvan, the provincial governor said in a statement. “May the violence stop soon so no more people die”.
