Constitutional statement from Mehmet Metiner: 'Let's discuss the characteristics of the Republic'

HÜDA PAR Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu, who entered the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) from the AKP lists in the May 14 General Elections and is known for his proximity to Hizbullah, had openly targeted Article 4 of the Constitution during a television program he attended.

In his statement, Yapıcıoğlu said, "We are saying that there should not be a 4th article in the constitution. Let me look at the camera and say it again. We are saying there should not be a 4th article in the Constitution. Saying that there are unchangeable articles in the Constitution does not mean that we should change all the articles you call unchangeable."

Following this constitutional move by HÜDA PAR, former AKP MP and Yeni Şafak columnist Mehmet Metiner wrote a remarkable article on the subject.

In his column, Mehmet Metiner argued that some characteristics of the Republic should be reviewed.

While stating that the national anthem, official language, flag, and the indivisible integrity of the country must be protected, Metiner expressed that other characteristics of the Republic could be rewritten with a democratic and libertarian understanding.

'THE ARTICLE THAT THE CAPITAL CANNOT BE CHANGED IS NOT CORRECT'

Metiner argued that he had no objection to Ankara being the capital, but that the capital could be changed according to the national will under extraordinary conditions such as war. Stating that it is not correct for the change of the capital to be among the "non-amendable" articles, Metiner emphasized that the Republic should be based on the national will.

Metiner said, "Whoever accepts the founding will, not the will of the nation, as the supreme will, the Republic in their minds is an oppressive Republic," stating that the will of the nation should be the priority. Furthermore, he suggested that if constitutional amendments based on the national will were accepted in the TBMM and submitted to a referendum, the public could approve them.