ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey’s justice minister said Saturday that the country needs a new constitution, as Ankara pursues a controversial constitutional reform push alongside ongoing peace talks with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
“At the point we have reached today, our current constitution is unfortunately insufficient in the face of national security threats, changing global conditions, evolving societal structures, and increasing demands for rights and freedoms,” Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said during a speech at a university in Istanbul. “A new constitution is a necessity.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been pushing to replace the 1982 military-era constitution.
Opposition parties have accused Erdogan of attempting to bypass presidential term limits and potentially extend his rule beyond 2028. Some analysts also believe Ankara’s recent efforts to revive peace talks with the PKK are partly aimed at securing Kurdish political support for constitutional amendments and Erdogan’s re-election.
Turkey and the PKK are currently engaged in talks aimed at ending a conflict that began in 1984 and is estimated to have killed around 40,000 people. The PKK has announced plans to dissolve itself and lay down arms.
"Many tragedies have occurred in our recent political history, our democracy has suffered serious setbacks,” Gurlek said.
A 2017 referendum significantly expanded Erdogan’s presidential powers while retaining the constitutional two-term limit.
To hold a new constitutional referendum, Erdogan would need the support of at least 360 lawmakers in Turkey’s 600-seat parliament. His bloc currently controls 321 seats, including backing from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the AKP’s main political ally.
Securing 400 votes would allow parliament to directly amend the constitution without a referendum.
“At the point we have reached today, our current constitution is unfortunately insufficient in the face of national security threats, changing global conditions, evolving societal structures, and increasing demands for rights and freedoms,” Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said during a speech at a university in Istanbul. “A new constitution is a necessity.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been pushing to replace the 1982 military-era constitution.
Opposition parties have accused Erdogan of attempting to bypass presidential term limits and potentially extend his rule beyond 2028. Some analysts also believe Ankara’s recent efforts to revive peace talks with the PKK are partly aimed at securing Kurdish political support for constitutional amendments and Erdogan’s re-election.
Turkey and the PKK are currently engaged in talks aimed at ending a conflict that began in 1984 and is estimated to have killed around 40,000 people. The PKK has announced plans to dissolve itself and lay down arms.
"Many tragedies have occurred in our recent political history, our democracy has suffered serious setbacks,” Gurlek said.
A 2017 referendum significantly expanded Erdogan’s presidential powers while retaining the constitutional two-term limit.
To hold a new constitutional referendum, Erdogan would need the support of at least 360 lawmakers in Turkey’s 600-seat parliament. His bloc currently controls 321 seats, including backing from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the AKP’s main political ally.
Securing 400 votes would allow parliament to directly amend the constitution without a referendum.
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