Erdogan Stokes Judicial Crisis in Turkey, Criticizes Constitutional Court and Supports Appeal Court's Challenge

Erdogan's criticisms center around decision to release jailed Parliamentarian Can Atalay; Turkish leader urges his party to back the Court of Cassation's challenge while calls for a new constitution grow. Critics argue this is Erdogan's attempt to control the judiciary and strip democratic checks and balances.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the country’s highest court, the Constitutional Court, for its decision to release jailed parliamentarian Can Atalay. He defended the Court of Cassation's stance that the Constitutional Court's ruling was unconstitutional, sparking a serious judicial feud in the country.
The Court of Cassation has initiated an unprecedented criminal investigation against judges of the Constitutional Court, marking a significant crisis in the Turkish judiciary system.
Erdogan's support for the Court of Cassation's action against the ruling of the Constitutional Court has been seen by critics and opposition lawmakers as an attempt to control the judiciary and eliminate democratic checks and balances in the country.
Erdogan has seized the judicial crisis as an opportunity to push for a new constitution. He argues that the dispute between the two courts underlines the need for constitutional amendments.
The crisis between Turkey’s two most prominent courts is reinforcing concerns over Erdogan's alleged influence over the judiciary and a degradation of the rule of law in the country. This comes as the European Commission releases an annual report highlighting 'serious backsliding' on democratic standards, the rule of law and judicial independence in Turkey.