Constitutional Court to urgently review freezing of HDP's account

Turkey's Constitutional Court will hastily review the prosecution's demand to freeze the Peoples's Democratic Party's (HDP) bank account that holds funds provided by the Turkish Treasury, Turkish government media Sabah reported on Friday.

The court asked the chief appeals prosecutor to provide relevant information and documents within five days, Sabah said, adding that it will subsequently review the demand and reach a decision on 6 January, four days before the hearing session of the closure case against HDP.

The chief prosecutor Bekir Sahin recently called on the Constitutional Court to urgently freeze HDP's bank account, saying, "It has been assessed that the indicted party carries on with its actions and discourses which are indicative of its organic ties with the terrorist group."

As one of the five political parties that have enough deputies in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) to form a parliamentary group, HDP is financially supported by the Treasury. The party is expected to receive a political funding of about 180 million TL (approximately $9.5 million) from the Treasury in early 2023 according to the proposed presidential budget. It will receive an additional 359 million TL (approximately $19 million) in the course of the year.

In case the Treasury's funds are blocked by the Constitutional Court, this may signify a financial blow to the party before the June elections even if the court does not decide to ban the party.