Turkey’s supreme court has ordered the unfreezing of the bank account of the Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP), which had been accused by authorities of having ties to the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) terror group.
The move could boost opposition to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by freeing up election campaign funds worth nearly $30 million for the third-largest political bloc in the Turkish parliament.
Some in parliament have called for the complete banning of the party, which the supreme court will also rule on in the coming weeks or months.
The HDP, which has long been singled out by Mr Erdogan and his supporters as being sympathetic to militant Kurdish groups, has denied allegations it has ties to the PKK.
Winning 11.7 per cent of the vote in the 2018 parliamentary election, the HDP is not part of the main opposition alliance, the Republican People’s Party (CHP). But it has signalled it would support the bloc's candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the coming presidential election.
Mithat Sancar, co-leader of the HDP, said on Monday that the party's “clear expectation is a transition for a strong democracy”.
“If we can agree on fundamental principles, we may support him in presidential elections,” he said.
HDP supporters helped the opposition alliance in 2019 to defeat mayoral candidates from the ruling AKP in Istanbul, Ankara and other major cities.
Polls show Mr Erdogan could lose in a vote shaping up to the biggest test of his 20-year rule, especially if the HDP co-operates with the opposition alliance.
There was no immediate reaction from the HDP or government to the ruling about the bank accounts.
It is unclear when the court will deliver its final ruling on the request to ban the party outright.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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