ANKARA — The Turkish Parliament on Tuesday expelled jailed opposition lawmaker Can Atalay, effectively defying the country’s highest court in an unprecedented move observers slam as a blatant strike against the country’s judicial independence.
The parliament, in which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling coalition holds a majority, decided to revoke Atalay’s status as a lawmaker over his conviction of attempting to overthrow the government despite his retrial being ordered by the Constitutional Court —Turkey’s highest.
As a clerk read the decision, opposition lawmakers banged their tables and booed, accusing the parliament members from Erdogan’s ruling coalition of revolting against the country’s judiciary and rule of law.
“We are watching a coup attempt that is trampling the constitution,” said Erkan Bas, the leader of Atalay’s leftist Workers’ Party of Turkey.
