ANKARA: Deputies from Turkey’s main pro-Kurdish party have decided to stay in Parliament despite a court decision to ban their movement, broadcasters reported on Friday, removing a potential source of political instability.
The 19 deputies had been expected to resign in protest at the Constitutional Court verdict last week in a move which could have led to by-elections in the mainly Kurdish southeast.
If confirmed, their decision would be a relief for Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, whose efforts to solve the long-running Kurdish conflict were undermined by the court ruling seen as a blow by the nationalist establishment against his reforms.
Kurds, who make up some 20 percent of Turkey’s 70 million population, have long complained of discrimination and were forbidden from using their language for decades.
The European Union has criticized the court ruling, which was seen as potentially damaging to the secular Muslim country’s faltering bid to join the bloc. Erdogan also was critical of the ban, saying on principle he was against closing parties.
Broadcasters said Democratic Society Party (DTP) leader Ahmet Turk, who was banned from politics under Friday’s verdict, would announce the decision at a 2:30 p.m. news conference. DTP officials declined to confirm the report.
Turkish financial markets showed no initial reaction, but it was seen removing a source of uncertainty ahead of 2011 parliamentary polls.
“If this is the case, it will eliminate concerns regarding early elections and political tension in the short term,” BGC Partners economist Ozgur Altug said.
He said the market had so far ignored developments, but the equity market could react positively if the ‘no resignation’ decision is confirmed.
The DTP deputies have been invited to join the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), which was formed after the court case against the DTP was opened and is regarded as a potential replacement in the case of a ban.
“We have made our call. After an assessment, Ahmet Turk will make an announcement at 2:30 p.m.,” BDP leader Demir Celik told reporters. Last week the Constitutional Court, using a controversial political parties act, found the DTP guilty of aiding separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels.
The PKK, termed a terrorist group by Ankara, the United States and EU, launched its armed fight for a Kurdish state in 1984 and 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
The court verdict had triggered violent protests across Turkey, with Kurds clashing with security forces.
Erdogan has sought to overcome the longstanding conflict by pledging economic development for the backward southeast, granting Kurdish-speakers rights to broadcast in their own language and improving ties with neighboring Iraq, including its autonomous Kurdish regional government.
