Kılıçdaroğlu Defends 2016 Parliamentary Immunity Vote

Former CHP Leader Responds to Debate Over 2016 Vote

Ankara — Former Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has issued a detailed statement regarding the 2016 parliamentary immunity vote, responding to renewed criticism and public debate surrounding the controversial constitutional process.

In a message shared on social media, Kılıçdaroğlu said recent discussions had created what he described as a distorted understanding of the events and argued that the circumstances of the period should be examined within their political and legal context.

Addressing his long-standing position on parliamentary immunity, Kılıçdaroğlu stated: “As a politician who currently has no immunity and who has faced numerous lawsuits filed by President Erdoğan, I repeat once again that I do not support any form of immunity other than parliamentary speech immunity.”

The former CHP chairman also referred to the political atmosphere of 2016, arguing that the ruling AK Party intended to take constitutional amendments to a referendum. According to Kılıçdaroğlu, the opposition’s decision during that period was aimed at preventing further polarization and countering what he described as a political strategy pursued by the government.

Explaining the CHP’s vote at the time, Kılıçdaroğlu said: “We voted ‘Yes’ in order to neutralize the political trap that had been set and to demonstrate that members of parliament had nothing to fear from judicial scrutiny.”

He further argued that the legal framework in force at the time envisaged that lawmakers whose immunity was lifted would be tried without detention until judicial proceedings were completed. However, he claimed that subsequent practices departed from established legal principles and judicial norms.

Kılıçdaroğlu also addressed the imprisonment of opposition figures, including former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş. He stated that his party consistently advocated for the implementation of decisions by the European Court of Human Rights and campaigned for what it viewed as fair judicial treatment for political detainees.

In the final section of his statement, Kılıçdaroğlu reiterated his commitment to legal advocacy and justice. “I will continue to seek justice for Selahattin Demirtaş, Selçuk Kozağaçlı, Can Atalay, the Gezi prisoners, detained mayors, and every citizen whose rights have been violated,” he said.

The statement comes amid ongoing political discussions in Türkiye regarding judicial independence, parliamentary immunity, and the role of opposition parties in key constitutional decisions taken during previous legislative terms.