17.06.2026 10:51
Work on the 12th Judicial Package prepared by the AK Party has reached its final stages. The proposal, expected to be submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) this week, includes regulations aimed at speeding up judicial processes, while evaluations continue on what kind of arrangement will be made regarding "IBAN victims." Meanwhile, the TBMM will enter its legislative recess later than scheduled, which was to begin on July 1. With six bills expected to be discussed, the TBMM is planned to go into recess in the last week of July.
In the AK Party Group, the final touches are being made to the regulations that will be included in the 12th Judicial Package. The proposal, which is planned to be submitted to the Speaker's Office of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on Friday or Monday, primarily envisions regulations aimed at "the effective and efficient functioning of the judiciary." Within this scope, to ensure that cases conclude in a shorter time, it is planned to include provisions allowing preliminary examination hearings in civil proceedings to be conducted via audio and video transmission, and that the Court of Cassation, excluding regional courts of appeal, cannot reverse decisions of first instance courts solely on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction or authority.
The proposal is also planned to include nine articles related to articles annulled by the Constitutional Court.
Among these regulations are: determining the legal interest rate at 31%, corresponding to 80% of the rediscount rate set by the Central Bank, instead of 24%; the maximum interval between two hearings being three months; the right of a fugitive defendant to request a retrial provided they are personally present in court; provisions on how long samples such as blood, hair, and nails taken from relevant individuals within the scope of a criminal investigation will be retained; and provisions regarding training and exams to be conducted by the Turkish Justice Academy.
WORK TOWARDS "IBAN VICTIMS"
While debates continue over whether the package will include a regulation for "IBAN victims," the AK Party will evaluate whether to make a regulation based on the impact analysis it requested from the Court of Cassation, criminal chambers, and local courts on the matter. A separate definition of the crime is planned for those who unknowingly allowed their IBAN accounts to be used by fraudsters and thus face 3-10 years of imprisonment under Article 158 of the Turkish Penal Code for qualified fraud. If they are not part of the qualified fraud act, instead of the penalty corresponding to qualified fraud, it is being considered to impose a prison sentence of 1-3 years for those in this situation, in line with the new definition.
NO REGULATION FOR LGBTI+ IN THE 12TH JUDICIAL PACKAGE
The proposal will not include articles regarding LGBTI+ individuals. No regulation regarding execution or amnesty will be made either. Regulations concerning family law, such as divorce and alimony, as well as regulations for juvenile offenders, are also not planned to be included in the package. While regulations for juvenile offenders are aimed to be brought to the Turkish Grand National Assembly as a separate proposal after the publication of the research report by the parliamentary research commission established on this matter, based on the evaluations in the report, regulations concerning family law are envisaged to be arranged in another judicial package.
PLANNED TO DISCUSS 6 BILLS UNTIL THE PARLIAMENTARY RECESS
Meanwhile, yesterday, with a motion by the AK Party, the working period of the Parliament, which according to the Rules of Procedure of the Turkish Grand National Assembly was supposed to go into recess on July 1, 2026, was extended. The Turkish Grand National Assembly, which will not work on July 6, 7, and 8 due to the NATO Summit in Ankara, is planned to go into recess in the last week of July. During this period, it is envisaged to discuss six bills.
AK Party officials reported that the bill regarding the "amnesty for those expelled from university," planned to be submitted this week, has been postponed due to the 12th Judicial Package, and that work on the said bill has reached its final stage.