Erdoğan's Views on the New Constitution and Türkiye Consensus
Quick Look
- President Erdoğan said that making a new constitution was a priority at the GNAT AKP Group Meeting and that he proposed a 'new Türkiye consensus', criticizing the current political understanding as polarizing.
- The author questions the justification of this proposal and criticizes that all actors in Turkish politics already agree on the rule of law and that no clear information is given about who prepared a new draft constitution and how it will be implemented.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
As the leader of the AKP, Erdoğan said that making a new constitution was a priority at the GNAT AKP Group Meeting and that he proposed a 'new Türkiye consensus', criticizing the current political understanding as polarizing.
My intention was to write about Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş, who has come to the fore again in recent months. However, President Erdoğan's speech to AKP MPs at the Turkish Grand National Assembly AKP Group Meeting, in his capacity as AKP leader, seemed to have more priority. That's why I turn to Erdogan's views.
According to the summaries I read, Erdoğan said: - He gave priority to making a new constitution. - He talked about the "new understanding of politics", touched upon the drawbacks of "polarizing politics" and called on politicians to meet on the "new Türkiye consensus".
Personally, I cannot understand why there is a need for them to agree on a new "Turkey consensus", as I believe that all those who take part in Turkish politics, without exception, are already in spontaneous agreement on the "Turkey consensus". Because it seemed to me that seeking a new consensus on this issue might create the impression that some of our politicians were in agreement in line with the interests of other countries and that the allegedly new constitution would completely eliminate this drawback. However, I do not remember or know of any words or actions of any of our politicians, no matter who they are, left or right, that could cause such suspicion.
Turkish politicians do not need such warnings, they need to take advantage of good, humane and civilized examples of democratic regimes both in our past and in other countries and to ensure that they take responsibility for the answer to the question "Will the principle of the rule of law be implemented?"
As for the Constitution:
As you know, this issue has been mentioned perhaps hundreds of times by AKP leaders since it was put forward by Erdoğan. However, they always said that he would be "civilian", that he would have a "very easy to understand language" and that he would be "libertarian". But no one explained who wrote this new draft. To our most important question, "Will the principle of the rule of law be implemented?" and if the answer is "yes", not a single word has been spoken about how this will be done. We are only asked to trust the AKP government and support it by closing our eyes.
Let them want it. We understand that too...
Who will forget what AKP has put us through for a quarter of a century?
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
AKP will begin to prepare the draft of the new constitution and present it to public opinion.
Likely · Within months
Discussions on the rule of law will ensure that the constitutional process remains on the agenda.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Who will prepare the new constitution draft?
- How will the principle of rule of law be implemented?
- How will the 'New Türkiye agreement' differ from existing agreements?
- What role will opposing parties and civil society play in the constitutional amendment process?
