Turkish Parliament to begin new legislative term on October 1

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) is set to begin its new legislative year on October 1, with the General Assembly scheduled to resume work on Tuesday, October 6.

The initial legislative agenda includes a nine-article bill concerning the Turkish Red Crescent. This proposal aims to establish a legal framework for the organization to support health services and prevent diseases during disasters, emergencies, and wartime. The bill also includes provisions for cash compensation for Red Crescent personnel working in disaster, war, and conflict zones, and allows the organization to act as a mediator in humanitarian processes such as prisoner exchanges during wartime.

Following this, the 13th Judicial Package will be introduced. A key component of this package is the reform of alimony laws, which is expected to address the practice of indefinite alimony. Proposed changes suggest limiting alimony duration based on the length of the marriage and the date the divorce case was filed. However, courts may still grant longer-term alimony to elderly women or those unable to work. The package also aims to expedite divorce proceedings by separating issues like alimony, property division, and custody from the main divorce trial.

Additionally, new regulations regarding tobacco products are expected. These measures include prohibiting smoking near schools and hospitals, reducing the visibility of smoking in parks and playgrounds, and removing tobacco products from behind cash registers at points of sale. The proposal also suggests implementing electronic age verification for tobacco sales.