00:23A heated confrontation erupted
00:27in Turkey's parliament on Wednesday.
00:30Lawmakers from the ruling party and the opposition clashed violently over the appointment
00:35of a new justice minister, forcing a temporary suspension of the session.
00:40The scuffle began as opposition legislators tried to stop Akin Gerlek recently appointed
00:47by President Recep Erdogan from taking his oath of office following a sweeping cabinet
00:53reshuffle.
00:53Gerlek's nomination to the powerful justice ministry has sparked fierce criticism, with
01:00opposition parties accusing him of political bias.
01:04Footage from the chamber shows a chaotic scene, lawmakers pushing and shoving, some even throwing
01:10punches as tensions boiled over into violence.
01:14Opposition members had gathered near the podium to block Gerlek from proceeding with his swearing-in.
01:20In response, members of Erdogan's AK party moved in to shield him, and the parliamentary
01:27speaker was forced to suspend proceedings for 15 minutes to restore order.
01:32After the break, Gerlek finally took his oath, surrounded by ruling party lawmakers.
01:38Gerlek previously served as Istanbul's chief public prosecutor overseeing several high-profile cases involving members of the main opposition, the
01:49Republican People's Party or CHP.
01:52Opposition leaders have long accused him of pursuing politically motivated prosecutions aimed at weakening government critics.
02:00They argue his elevation to justice minister threatens judicial independence, raising serious concerns about the future of the rule of
02:09law in Turkey.
02:10The confrontation comes amid a broader cabinet reshuffle, which also saw Mustafa Çiftçi, governor of Erzurum, appointed as interior minister.
02:20This reshuffle takes place against the backdrop of a sweeping anti-corruption campaign targeting municipalities run by opposition parties.
02:30Hundreds of CHP-affiliated officials have been arrested in recent years.
02:35Among the most prominent figures caught up in these investigations is Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, widely viewed as Erdogan's main
02:44political rival.
02:46He was arrested last year on corruption and organized crime allegations.
02:50In November, Gerlek filed a broad indictment against Imamoglu, accusing him of 142 separate offenses and seeking a combined prison
03:01sentence of over 2,000 years.
03:04The move drew widespread criticism both inside Turkey and abroad.
03:09This brawl in parliament is more than a physical clash.
03:12It reflects deeper political tensions and raises urgent questions about the future of judicial independence, democratic accountability and the rule
03:21of law in Turkey.
03:23The stakes are high and the country and the world is watching closely.
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