The conditions are ripe to prepare a new constitution in Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday, as he indicated that the country would pursue a new text rather than revising the existing document, which has been criticized for having traces of putschist ideology.
Speaking at the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) parliamentary group meeting, Erdoğan said patching some parts of the existing Constitution was not enough.
“The new constitution, by its nature, has to be supported by everyone, or at least by the overwhelming majority. All parties should join its preparation process,” the president said.
Erdoğan also noted that his party wants the new constitution to set an example for the world, as he urged fellow party members to focus on preparations and create the “most inclusive and sustainable draft possible.”
He noted that the Turkish Parliament and the People’s Alliance have a great responsibility in this regard as he said all sides can sit down and discuss different opinions.
“Let us come up with the most comprehensive text that will be long-lasting for our people. Let us greet our 100th year with a new civilian constitution rather than the putschist constitution,” the president said.
The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) pledged to support the plan to draft a new document, as Chairperson Devlet Bahçeli underlined in his statement that the country’s Constitution in its present form was the “product of extraordinary conditions.”
Turkey’s current Constitution was drafted following the Sept. 12, 1980, coup d’etat, and it still features elements of putschist influences despite a number of amendments having been made to subdue it.
The AK Party wants Turkey to have a civilian-drafted constitution by 2023, coinciding with the centenary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey.
