Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared Wednesday that the government would be implementing a three-month state of emergency following Friday’s failed army coup.
The state of emergency grants the president and his cabinet increased powers such as the ability to bypass parliament in enacting new laws and allows them to limit or suspend rights and freedoms.
Speaking after meetings of the national security council and the cabinet at the presidential palace in Ankara, Erdoğan said: “This measure is in no way against democracy, the law and freedoms,” adding, “Europe does not have the right to criticize this decision,” Reuters reports.
EU leaders have been critical of Erdoğan’s response to the coup, which has seen thousands of teachers, public servants, police officers and military personnel, as well as others, suspended from their jobs or detained.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier responded to the state of emergency announcement by saying Turkey must respect the rule of law, according to Reuters.
“Only probable involvement in illegal acts, not suspected political leanings, should trigger governmental action,” Steinmeier said. “It’s also critical that the declaration of emergency be the truly necessary length of time, and to end the measure as quickly as possible.”