Liberal Party Spokesperson Engin Avcı Highlights Law Enforcement and Rule of Law Concerns: “There Is a Risk of an Authoritarian System of Coercion”

Liberal Party Spokesperson Engin Avcı made notable remarks regarding the relationship between law enforcement agencies and the rule of law, emphasizing that police and security forces must operate under civilian authority in accordance with democratic principles.

According to Avcı, safeguarding the rule of law requires that officials responsible for overseeing law enforcement be selected on the basis of legal commitment, merit, and the ability to exercise authority responsibly.

In his statement, Avcı said:

“As a requirement of a democratic state governed by the rule of law, civilian administrators should be placed in charge of law enforcement officers who carry firearms. However, this alone is not sufficient; officials responsible for supervising law enforcement should be chosen from among individuals capable of establishing authority through their commitment to the law and their determination.

When law enforcement exceeds its powers and duties and acts outside the boundaries of the law, public order and citizens’ peace and security are threatened. In such circumstances, the rule of law is weakened, and the risk emerges of a system of coercion exercised through state power.

Our nation has paid a heavy price for military tutelage in the past. During the state of emergency period, it was observed that some public officials, taking advantage of extraordinary conditions, engaged in practices that exceeded their areas of authority and responsibility, at times exerting pressure even on prosecutors and civil administrators instead of acting in accordance with their directives.

Statements concerning strip searches and the continuation of controversial practices in certain provinces despite rulings by the European Court of Human Rights demonstrate that this danger has not been entirely eliminated.

We believe that senior state authorities are also aware of this risk and expect the necessary measures to be taken to strengthen the rule of law. When preparing decrees concerning police appointments and governors, priority should be given to adherence to the law, merit, determination, and democratic oversight.”

The statement stressed that strengthening the rule of law requires a greater emphasis on democratic accountability, merit-based appointments, and legal compliance in both law enforcement and civil administration.