Constitutional Justice Enny Nurbaningsih and Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court of Turkey delivering a general lecture at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, on Tuesday (2/10). Photo by Humas MK.

The Constitutional Court invited the Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Turkey to give a general lecture entitled "Constitutional Court and the Protection of Citizens’ Constitutional Rights" at the Faculty of Law, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta on Tuesday (2/10/2018). On the previous day, Monday, October 1, 2018, Yildirim was one of the speakers at the 2nd Indonesian Constitutional Court International Symposium held by the Constitutional Court with the theme "The Constitutional Court and Constitutionalism in Political Dynamics" at Tentrem Hotel, Yogyakarta. 

At the event, around 150 students learned about the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia and the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Turkey. Moderator Andi Sandi revealed that the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia and the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Turkey had similarities as well as differences. Engin Yildirim revealed that there are 17 (seventeen) constitutional judges in Turkey. The number is clearly significantly different from Indonesia, which only has 9 (nine) constitutional justices. Yildirim also revealed that constitutional judges in Turkey are not elected by the President, the Supreme Court, or the House of Representatives as practiced in Indonesia. 

Constitutional Justice Enny Nurbaningsih, who was a constitutional law lecturer at the Law Faculty of UGM before being appointed as a constitutional justice to replace Maria Farida Indrati on August 13, 2018. Justice Enny highlighted the Ethics Council. She revealed that not all constitutional courts have a code of ethics in the constitutional justice profession like in Indonesia. "The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Turkey has no [written] code of ethics," said Justice Enny. In the question and answer session, one student expressed appreciation for the Court\'s performance in handling election dispute cases. Responding to this, Justice Enny revealed that it would be better for the Court to focus on its main authority, namely judicial review of laws against the 1945 Constitution. 

Closing the general lecture, Andi Sandi concluded by quoting a saying "A strong, independent, impartial, and professional Constitutional Court can provide a strong protection to the citizens." (Raisa/LA)

Translated by: Yuniar Widiastuti