Statement of ACRE on Turkey (February 2017)

STATEMENT OF THE ALLIANCE OF CONSERVATIVES AND REFORMISTS IN EUROPE (ACRE) ON TURKEY

We deplore the violent coup attempt of 2016. We also appreciate the enormous burden placed on Turkey by the Syrian war and refugee crisis – a burden they have shouldered cheerfully and uncomplainingly.

An unstable environment, however, is not a justification for weakening democratic norms, abandoning political pluralism or moving toward a more authoritarian style of government.

We have been concerned, since 2014, by some of the actions of the Turkish government. Our values, as expressed in our Reykjavík Declaration, stress the importance of the rule of law and limited government. That necessarily means respect for critical media, an independent judiciary, an impartial civil service and a free opposition.

We have undertaken two missions to Turkey to assess the compatibility of AK Party with the values of ACRE and the principles set out in the Reykjavík Declaration.

In September 2016, some of our member parties tabled a motion asking for a vote on whether AK Party was compliant with our principles and whether its membership of the Alliance should be suspended. After a further debate and exchange of views, votes will be held in February 2017.

The ACRE Council notes with concern the continuing developments in Turkey. ACRE understands that an attempted coup d’état can lead to measures that would not be contemplated in normal times. None the less, a coup cannot justify a permanent shift in the balance of power, nor a continuing State of Emergency, nor a purge of officials who were uninvolved, nor the mistreatment of detainees.

Similarly, we accept the need for some reforms of the 1980 constitution, and recognize that it is for the Turkish electorate to determine its own constitutional arrangements. But we stress that the supremacy of national parliaments is part of the Reykjavík Declaration, and oppose any shift in power that would lead to a less pluralist or more autocratic form of regime.

We will keep the situation under review. We urge AK Party, as the coup passes into history, to normalize the situation, to end the state of emergency, to respect the freedom of the parliamentary opposition and of critical media, to restore the immunity of parliamentarians when acting in a political capacity, to expedite the trials or else move to the release of those detained in connection with political offences, and to ensure that the new constitutional dispensation provides for a proper balance of powers. We shall continue to monitor the compatibility of AK Party, as of all our member parties, with our basic values.

 

 

 

REYKJAVIK DECLARATION

The Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe (ACRE) is the fastest-growing political force in Europe. Founded in 2010, it is now the third largest European political movement.

We are a political family united by the centre-right values expressed in our Reykjavik Declaration. We believe in individual liberty, national sovereignty, parliamentary democracy, private property, limited government, sound money, free trade, family values and the devolution of power.

As we respect the autonomy of nations and of individuals, so we respect that of our member parties, all of whom have equal status, regardless of whether or not they come from EU states.

The Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe (ACRE) brings together parties committed to individual liberty, national sovereignty, parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, private property, low taxes, sound money, free trade, open competition, and the devolution of power.

1.    ACRE believes in a Europe of independent nations, working together for mutual gain while each retaining its identity and integrity.

2.    ACRE is committed to the equality of all European democracies, whatever their size, and regardless of which international associations they join.

3.    ACRE favours the exercise of power at the lowest practicable level – by the individual where possible, by local or national authorities in preference to supranational bodies.

4.    ACRE understands that open societies rest upon the dignity and autonomy of the individual, who should be as free as possible from state coercion. The liberty of the individual includes freedom of religion and worship, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of movement and association, freedom of contract and employment, and freedom from oppressive, arbitrary or punitive taxation.

5.    ACRE recognises the equality of all citizens before the law, regardless of ethnicity, sex or social class. It rejects all forms of extremism, authoritarianism and racism.

6.    ACRE cherishes the important role of civil associations, families and other bodies that fill the space between the individual and the government.

7.    ACRE acknowledges the unique democratic legitimacy of the nation-state.

8.    ACRE is committed to the spread of free commerce and open competition, in Europe and globally.

9.    ACRE supports the principles of the Prague Declaration of March 2009 and the work of the European Conservatives and Reformists in the European Parliament and allied groups on the other European assemblies.

 

STATEMENT OF THE ALLIANCE OF CONSERVATIVES AND REFORMISTS IN EUROPE (ACRE) ON TURKEY

 

We deplore the violent coup attempt of 2016. We also appreciate the enormous burden placed on Turkey by the Syrian war and refugee crisis – a burden they have shouldered cheerfully and uncomplainingly.

An unstable environment, however, is not a justification for weakening democratic norms, abandoning political pluralism or moving toward a more authoritarian style of government.

We have been concerned, since 2014, by some of the actions of the Turkish government. Our values, as expressed in our Reykjavík Declaration, stress the importance of the rule of law and limited government. That necessarily means respect for critical media, an independent judiciary, an impartial civil service and a free opposition.

We have undertaken two missions to Turkey to assess the compatibility of AK Party with the values of ACRE and the principles set out in the Reykjavík Declaration.

In September 2016, some of our member parties tabled a motion asking for a vote on whether AK Party was compliant with our principles and whether its membership of the Alliance should be suspended. After a further debate and exchange of views, votes will be held in February 2017.

The ACRE Council notes with concern the continuing developments in Turkey. ACRE understands that an attempted coup d’état can lead to measures that would not be contemplated in normal times. None the less, a coup cannot justify a permanent shift in the balance of power, nor a continuing State of Emergency, nor a purge of officials who were uninvolved, nor the mistreatment of detainees.

Similarly, we accept the need for some reforms of the 1980 constitution, and recognize that it is for the Turkish electorate to determine its own constitutional arrangements. But we stress that the supremacy of national parliaments is part of the Reykjavík Declaration, and oppose any shift in power that would lead to a less pluralist or more autocratic form of regime.

We will keep the situation under review. We urge AK Party, as the coup passes into history, to normalize the situation, to end the state of emergency, to respect the freedom of the parliamentary opposition and of critical media, to restore the immunity of parliamentarians when acting in a political capacity, to expedite the trials or else move to the release of those detained in connection with political offences, and to ensure that the new constitutional dispensation provides for a proper balance of powers. We shall continue to monitor the compatibility of AK Party, as of all our member parties, with our basic values.