Turkey's state of emergency to end next month

Turkey's government will not extend a state of emergency when it expires next month, according to local media.

1 min read

28 June, 2018

AKP leader Erdogan agreed with coalition partner Devlet Bahceli on the emergency laws [AFP]

Turkey's controversial state of emergency - enacted after the 2016 coup attempt - will not be extended next month, local media reported on Thursday.

The announcement follows a campaign promise by re-elected President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to lift the measures, following an agreement between his Justice Development Party (AKP) and coalition partner, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

"In the talks, agreement was reached not to extend the state of emergency," the Sabah newspaper said without specifying the source of its report.

The AKP promised to give the MHP key cabinet positions, due to its support during Erdogan's re-election.

Erdogan won 53 percent of the vote in Sunday's presidential election.

Turkey's state of emergency was enacted shortly after a coup attempt in July 2016, and gives the government sweeping powers and curbs individual freedoms.

Thousands of suspects have been arrested since the coup attempt, but the draconian laws have been criticised by human rights group.