The Court members had examined the report on the merits of the case, in which the rapporteur Osman Can recommended the court not to close the ruling party.  

Setting a date to debate the case is the final step in the process. At least seven members of the 11-membered court should support a closure ruling.

The Constitutional Court can also rule to deprive the AKP of financial assistance of the Treasury instead of its dissolution.

The top prosecutor had demanded the Court to close the ruling party and ban 71 officials, including Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul from politics.  

The AKP has B and C plans in case it gets closed by the Constitutional Court, the party's Deputy Chairman Saban Disli told reporters on Monday, adding the plans would be implemented if needed.

"The uncertainty in the closure case would continue until the end of July or the beginning of August. We continue to work as if there is no closure case filed against us," Disli said.

"Our plans would not be implemented if there is no necessity. We have no plans for a (new) party formation. I hope that Turkey would not need a new political party formation," he added.