Numan Kurtulmuş sets date for new constitution talks

Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş made statements regarding the agenda during a program he attended.

Speaking on the Başkent Kulisi program on Kanal 7, Kurtulmuş gave messages regarding the new constitution talks.

Setting a date for the new constitution negotiations, Kurtulmuş said, "The most correct path is to finish it in a short time, without rushing."

Kurtulmuş noted the following:

"I visited them in the first round. Some of the parties came to us. I met with everyone. There are 14 parties in parliament. One party, a party represented in parliament, said 'we are not part of these discussions.' Therefore, we have had contact with all 13 parties represented in parliament, excluding them. But before this contact, it must be stated clearly.

I am speaking about these 13 parties in Turkey. All of them have either used the term 'new constitution' in their election manifestos, party programs, or party texts, or have proposed a fundamental constitutional amendment. Therefore, the issue of changing the constitution is neither my personal issue nor the issue of any single party alone."

HE SAID "THEY DID NOT COMPLETELY CLOSE THE DOOR" AND POINTED TO CHP

"All political parties have demonstrated in the past that Turkey needs to get rid of the 12 September constitution and that efforts should be made to create a new, democratic constitution. Therefore, this stands as an important piece of data in our hands. Secondly, in these first-round talks, yes, there were parties that criticized. There were parties that criticized government practices in particular on some issues. Even, let me say it because they said it in front of the public, they said 'first comply with the constitution, then let's discuss the constitution.' Despite all this, they did not completely close the door.

They had not closed it. Of course, other things intervened. We were thinking of starting in October, but hopefully, after the budget negotiations are finished after the new year, we will make an effort to bring the parties together again.

There is a need for a constitution that is libertarian, inclusive, democratic, undoubtedly sets forth the principle of separation of powers, and advances by reinforcing the principle of the rule of law. There has been much debate about the language of this constitution and about it having too many articles. Especially to avoid blocking the path of discussions, I have not spoken once about the content of the constitution until today."

"THE MOST CORRECT PATH IS TO FINISH IT IN A SHORT TIME"

"It is only about how it will be done; it must be done on the right ground. This right ground is the TBMM. And of course, we will take the views of all segments of society. Universities, the academic world, the legal world, NGOs.

I never, ever want to turn this into a political party polemic. Because we know that a constitution cannot be the constitution of one party. It cannot be the constitution of a few parties. The constitution is the nation's constitution.

I hope that with this well-intentioned working environment, if there is a positive approach from the parties—starting in October was what we had in mind, but now, as of the end of the year—we can continue these efforts by opening it up to Turkey and starting the legislative process in parliament with the new legislative year of 2025.

I think the most correct path is to finish it in a short time, in a well-planned manner that is not rushed and will not drag on for many years without making it too widespread."

News Source: 12punto