ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that his ruling AK Party and its nationalist allies could begin work on a new constitution less than four years after the previous constitution was revised. to provide comprehensive powers.
Turks voted in favor of the constitutional changes in 2017, which led to the country transitioning from a parliamentary democracy to an executive presidential system, despite strong setbacks by opposition parties and critics.
Erdogan was elected president in 2018 under the new system, with comprehensive executive powers calling opposition parties a ‘one-man regime’. The AKP and their allies of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) defended the system, saying it creates a streamlined state apparatus.
“Perhaps the time has come for Turkey to discuss a new constitution again,” Erdogan said following a cabinet meeting in Ankara. “If we reach an agreement with our alliance partner, we can mobilize for a new constitution in the coming period,” he said, adding that efforts must be transparent and shared with the public.
“No matter how much we change, it is not possible to erase the signs of coup and oversight inserted in the spirit of the constitution,” he said, adding that he was upset that previous such attempts over the largest opposition. uncompromising attitude “.
Erdogan’s remarks come weeks after MHP leader Devlet Bahceli proposed constitutional changes to ban the pro-Kurdish Democratic Party (HDP) on separatism.
Bahceli has long been a fierce critic of the HDP, accusing him, like Erdogan, of ties to Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants fighting a 36-year insurgency in southeastern Turkey. The HDP denies this.
“Work on a constitution cannot be done under the shadow of groups affiliated with the terrorist organization (PKK) with people whose spiritual and emotional ties are severed with their country,” Erdogan said on Monday without specify.
Law groups and Turkey’s Western allies have criticized what they see as increasing authoritarianism and threats to the rule of law under Erdogan, especially since an attempted coup in 2016 that caused his opponents’ alleged opposition to public services, the military and elsewhere.
Turkish authorities have denied the allegations, saying the measures are necessary for national security.
(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay; Edited by Alistair Bell)
Originally published