Words from former AKP member Hüseyin Çelik that will anger Erdoğan! 'The Turkish-style presidency has been our disaster'

Speaking at a conference held in Ankara, former Constitutional Court President Haşim Kılıç and former Minister of National Education Hüseyin Çelik made evaluations regarding the judicial system and the Presidential Government System. While Kılıç criticized the stance of the Constitutional Court and emphasized that ECHR decisions must be implemented, Çelik harshly criticized the current system.

DEBATE ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Judiciary and freedoms were among the prominent topics at the conference titled "Politics Must Change First," organized by the Democracy Platform and moderated by former Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertuğrul Günay. Sociologist Doğu Ergil and journalists Taha Akyol and Bekir Ağırdır also attended the event.

Evaluating the point reached by freedom of expression in his speech, Haşim Kılıç stated that silence has become widespread in society, saying, "The understanding of 'keep your religious belief within yourself, do not let it go beyond the borders of your heart,' which was reflected in the decisions of the Constitutional Court until the 2010 constitutional amendment, turned into an understanding of 'keep your thoughts to yourself, do not express them' after 2010, and the space for freedom of expression has been gradually narrowed."

EMPHASIS ON AYM AND ECHR DECISIONS

Touching upon the problems in the judiciary and the non-implementation of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decisions, Kılıç also criticized the current approach of the Constitutional Court. Arguing that the high court remains ineffective in the face of local courts not implementing Constitutional Court (AYM) decisions, Kılıç said:

"The timid and anxious stance displayed by the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Turkey in its decisions regarding individual applications harms the court's known liberal stance. Violation decisions given by the European Court of Human Rights against Constitutional Court decisions must be implemented with courage, and injustices must be eliminated. Problems related to the judiciary are no longer issues that can be postponed."

CRITICISM OF POLITICS AND THE SYSTEM

Taking the floor at the conference, Hüseyin Çelik made criticisms regarding the political structure and the management system. Expressing that the concentration of power weakens the merit system, Çelik said, "When leaders take the reins and fully dominate the situation, the principle of merit and competence completely disappears and evaporates. It is replaced by absolute loyalty and allegiance. Criticizing the chairman is treason to the cause."

“IT IS A DISASTER FOR TURKEY”

Evaluating the Presidential Government System, Çelik argued that the current structure is not compatible with democratic principles. He used the following expressions in his statement:

"A partisan presidency and the 'Turkish-style' presidential system unique to us today are a disaster for Turkey. Now, you are the president and you have a party. You say whatever comes to your mind to the opposition party. When they respond to you, it becomes an insult to the president. We will be democratic as written in the constitution, we will be secular. You cannot talk about a social state in a country where income distribution is so unfair. All the speakers expressed it, are we really a state of law?"