Turkey Opposition Rejects New Judiciary Plan

Turkey's main opposition party on Thursday rejected new government proposals aimed at ending a standoff over its bid to tighten controls on the judiciary.

The Republican People's Party (CHP) dismissed a new proposal by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as "insincere" as it had yet to withdraw a contentious bill on the issue.

President Abdullah Gul has been pushing for a compromise to ensure judicial reforms meet EU criteria and are enshrined in constitutional amendments that would require full cross-party support.

The AKP launched its bill in the wake of a wide-ranging corruption probe targeting key government allies that it blames on rivals who hold key positions in the judiciary, police and prosecution services.

The AKP measure initially called for the government to appoint members of the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), a move that raised concerns in the EU and U.S. about the independence of the judiciary.

In the face of the outcry, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government revised the proposals, suggesting instead that members of the HSYK be appointed by MPs in accordance with their representation in parliament.

The AKP retains a comfortable majority despite several resignations in the midst of the political crisis, with 320 seats in the 548-member house while the CHP has 134.