Turkey: Back from illness, Baykal returns to parliament

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Long sidelined by illness, a senior Turkish lawmaker was finally sworn in on Thursday for the current parliament, some eight months after winning reelection.

By taking the oath of office, Deniz Baykal, former leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), made his long-delayed return to the Turkish parliament, appearing for the first time since the general elections last June.

Baykal, who represents the Mediterranean Antalya province, has suffered from circulatory problems in a major artery, and since October 2017 has been in hospitals in the capital Ankara and Munich, Germany receiving treatment, therapy, and rehabilitation.

Now 80, when Baykal first won a parliamentary seat in 1973, he was the youngest Turkish deputy.

Baykal has demonstrated "a huge struggle during his political life," said Deputy Parliament Speaker Levent Gok on the day Baykal rejoined the fold.

"I wish you health and peace," he added.

Also attending the delayed swearing-in ceremony were CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli.