President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is working to finalize work for a new Constitution before the legislative year ends.
“If we’re able to conciliate with other parties’ constitution proposals, we may finalize work for Turkey’s first civilian-drafted constitution by year-end,” Erdoğan told the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party)’s first parliamentary group meeting of the 27th session on Wednesday. Thanking fellow lawmakers for hard work on the draft, the president said he has full faith that the parliament will make the country’s first civilian-drafted constitution.
He noted that if they fail to reconcile, then the AK Party would come up with its own regulations based on the party’s experience and expertise until the 2023 elections.
The president also criticized the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) for pledging to change the first four articles of the Constitution and covertly cooperating with the pro-PKK Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP). The first four articles of the Turkish Constitution are irrevocable and amendments to them cannot be suggested.
“Is the proposal to change the first four articles of the Constitution CHP’s idea or Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s personal opinion?” Erdoğan said, adding that there is a serious problem if the main opposition party embraces it.He argued that the idea tries to make up to the HDP, saying that if the party embraces it, then it means it has come under the tutelage of the HDP.
Meanwhile, regarding the Good Party (IP) Chairperson Meral Akşener’s recent announcement on being a candidate for the now-defunct position of prime minister in 2023, Erdoğan said it was caused by the HDP’s secret veto of Akşener, as he called her bid “tragicomic.”
“Akşener has sought an imaginary position,” Erdoğan said.