Turkish parliament speaker calls for political maturity
Cemil Cicek stresses the need for constructive contributions from opposition parties in parliaments.
OSLO, Norway
The trouble-free passage of legislation in parliament depends on political maturity, constructive dialogue and mutual respect, Turkey's parliamentary speaker has said.
Cemil Cicek was speaking on Friday during a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe held in the Norwegian capital, Oslo.
"Constructive contribution of the opposition [parties] will enable transparency and legality for the legislative procedures conducted at parliaments," said Cicek.
Stating that different segments of societies grab the chance of being represented in national parliaments, Cicek described "opposition" as insurance and the “oxygen of democracy” if it sides with the government within democratic systems.
Government and opposition “are the two essentials that complete each other in democracies and the need to provide a strong balance in the relations between these two notions has always been discussed during history,” added Cicek.
Around 60 parliament speakers and presidents gathered in Oslo on 11 and 12 September for a biennial parliamentary summit.
The Turkish speaker also held bilateral talks with his Italian, German and Norwegian counterparts as well as Baroness Frances D'Souza, the newly elected speaker of the U.K.’s House of Lords.
