Turkish parliament sees 'royal rumble' over new justice minister's appointment

Turkey’s parliament descended into chaos after a heated confrontation broke out between the ruling party and opposition lawmakers over the appointment of a new justice minister. The clash disrupted proceedings and forced the speaker to temporarily suspend the session as punches were thrown and lawmakers had to be separated on the parliamentary floor.

The scuffle erupted when opposition legislators attempted to block Akin Gurlek, newly appointed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, from taking his oath of office following a cabinet reshuffle. As opposition members gathered near the podium to prevent the ceremony, lawmakers from the ruling Justice and Development Party moved in to protect Gurlek, triggering a physical altercation that quickly escalated. Parliamentary proceedings were halted for 15 minutes in an effort to restore order. After the break, Gurlek was able to take his oath, surrounded by ruling party lawmakers. His appointment has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, who accuse him of political bias and argue that his elevation threatens judicial independence.

Gurlek previously served as Istanbul’s chief public prosecutor, overseeing several high-profile cases involving members of the main opposition Republican People’s Party. Opposition leaders say his role in prosecuting critics of the government, including cases against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, raises serious concerns about the rule of law amid an ongoing cabinet reshuffle and anti-corruption drive.