'New Constitution' workshop held at the Palace under the chairmanship of Mehmet Uçum!

The "New Constitution General Evaluation Workshop," chaired by Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Legal Policies Board Mehmet Uçum—who previously brought up the possibility of a 'third term' candidacy for AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan by calling for a new constitution—was held at the Palace.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç stated that they have a goal to create a new, democratic, civilian, and inclusive constitution that is based on human rights, grounded in the rule of law, defines the duties of the state, and protects human dignity.

Stating that regardless of political views, everyone is in consensus that the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) should draft a democratic and civilian constitution, Tunç expressed that drafting a new constitution is a debt owed by members of parliament to the nation.

Tunç noted that when looking at the history of the constitution, it can be said that Turkey has experienced periods of constitutional instability, and continued his remarks as follows:

"The purpose of a constitution is to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals against state power. To protect human dignity, justice must be served. And for justice to be fully served, the rule of law is a prerequisite. The prerequisite for the rule of law is an impartial and independent judiciary. The ability of an impartial and independent judiciary to protect human dignity and to protect the individual against power depends on the text it applies. That text is, first and foremost, the constitution. We want the constitution that the impartial and independent judiciary will apply and that the state will be bound by to primarily base itself on the protection of human dignity."

Pointing out that Turkish political history is full of wounds opened in society by tutelage centers, coup plotters, and those aspiring to coups every 10 years, Tunç expressed that the judicial processes far from justice, torture, and executions experienced during these periods are painful memories etched into minds.

"CONSTITUTIONS IN TURKEY MOSTLY EMERGED FROM COUPS AND ATTEMPTED COUPS"

Emphasizing that constitutions in Turkey mostly emerged from coups and attempted coups and were prepared to preserve the tutelage in the minds of the coup plotters, Tunç continued:

"For example, the primary duty of the 1961 Constitution, prepared by the May 27 coup plotters, was to legitimize the coup and place the national will under tutelage. Again, the blow dealt to civilian politics on March 12, 1971, was reflected in the constitution of the period, and with the changes made, tutelage in politics was practically institutionalized. The 1982 Constitution emerged at the end of a period in Turkey's lost decades, where our youth were sent to the gallows, one from the right and one from the left, and legal murders became a normal occurrence. In the codes of the 1982 Constitution, there is distrust of the nation, the discrediting of the political institution, and the entrenchment and legitimization of tutelage."

"PREPARING A CIVILIAN AND DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTION IS EXTREMELY ESSENTIAL"

Arguing that the 1961 and 1982 Constitutions were designed to maintain a tutelary understanding, Tunç assessed, "Therefore, social peace could not be established for decades, and the deep wounds opened in our society by tutelage centers have not healed. It is extremely essential to prepare a civilian and democratic constitution to replace the 1982 Constitution, which is still in force."

"OUR CONSTITUTION HAS TURNED INTO A PROSTHETIC CONSTITUTION"

Pointing out that the Constitution, which consists of 177 articles, has been amended 19 times and that these changes relate to 184 points, Tunç said:

"There have been more changes than the number of articles. We see that both the uniformity in terms of text has been broken, and we are constantly exposed to criticisms that we do not deserve, such as it having turned into a 'patchwork quilt' according to some, or a 'riddled constitution' according to others. Moreover, despite the changes made to this Constitution, which is a product of a coup, the remnants of tutelage over the national will could not be completely erased. Attempts were made to reduce the tutelary spirit, but it is not possible to say that it has been completely erased."

Expressing that the tutelary spirit has permeated even the articles, Tunç noted the following:

"We compare our 1982 Constitution to an '82 model car made after the 1980 coup, and during this time, we have made many part changes to the old car according to our needs. We all say that it is not right to go with that vehicle in the new modern era. This Constitution of ours has practically turned into a prosthetic constitution. Despite the regulations we have implemented in 21 years that reduce the tutelary spirit in our Constitution, we want a new constitution."

News Source: AA