UPDATE - Turkey: Parliament ratifies bill to lift MPs immunity

UPDATES WITH VOTE ON SECOND ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT BILL

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's parliament ratified on Friday the second article of the temporary amendment to the Turkish constitution bill that allows the lifting of immunity from prosecution of 138 lawmakers.

Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman announced in the general assembly that the bill's second part received the backing from 374 MPs while 136 lawmakers voted against it in the 550-seat parliament.

A total of 526 parliamentarians participated in the second part of the secret ballot process, out of which four MPs abstained, 11 cast blank votes and one vote was considered invalid.

Earlier in the day, the parliament had ratified the first article of the same amendment bill.

According to Kahraman, the first part of the bill was backed by 373 MPs, while 138 lawmakers voted against it in the 550-seat parliament.

A total of 531 parliamentarians participated in this first part of the secret ballot process, out of which eight MPs abstained, nine cast blank votes and three votes were considered invalid.

The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, which has 316 seats, and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party, also known as MHP, which has 40 seats, both backed the bill.

If 367 deputies or more vote "yes" in the next joint voting stage, then the law will be presented to the Turkish president for final approval.