Striking call from MHP regarding the new Constitution! 'Even if it passes Parliament...'

Feti Yıldız, a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) Constitutional Committee and MHP Istanbul Deputy, made statements regarding the ongoing discussions on a new constitution.

Stating that there is no article in the draft constitution prepared by the MHP that contradicts the fundamental principles of the Republic, Yıldız emphasized that his party would oppose any changes to the first 4 articles of the constitution and Article 66, which regulates citizenship. Yıldız stated that in the new constitution, "freedoms will be the rule, and restrictions will be the exception."

Speaking to the Sözcü newspaper, Yıldız recalled that the 1961 Constitution, prepared as a result of a coup, was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, and the 1982 Constitution was prepared by the Consultative Assembly.

"THE LANGUAGE OF OUR CONSTITUTION IS ALSO FLAWED"

Stating that although the 1982 Constitution has been amended 19 times to date, it could not be corrected, Yıldız said, "The language of our constitution is also flawed," and gave the following example:

"There is a text for the parliamentary oath in the constitution. We say 'and' 9 times within a single oath text. Can there be an oath text that contains 'and' 9 times? Even the person taking the oath struggles while reading it. We are also correcting the oath text in the constitution we have prepared. We are simplifying the current language of the constitution and making it more understandable. There is a need for this."

"EVEN IF IT PASSES PARLIAMENT, IT MUST BE VOTED ON BY THE PUBLIC"

Claiming that the systematics of the constitution have been disrupted, Feti Yıldız said, "We owe it to our people to create a civil, democratic constitution. Even if the constitution we have prepared passes Parliament with the votes of 400 deputies, it must still be submitted to a public vote. Our people should have the final say."

MHP'S PROPOSALS

Feti Yıldız also listed the most important regulations included in the 100-article constitutional proposal prepared by the MHP as follows:

• The fundamental principles in the constitution will be preserved. There will be no concessions on this. In other words, systems such as regions or states will not be able to enter our constitution.
• The number of Vice Presidents will be limited to two. The position of Vice President will be filled through elections. In other words, it will not be by appointment; the person who wins the election will be the deputy. It should be essential that the person who acts as deputy when the President goes abroad is an elected Vice President.
• The government program will be presented to the TBMM and the program will be read in Parliament.
• Parliamentary immunity will be tied to new principles. Abuse of immunity will be prevented.
• The Speaker of the TBMM must be impartial. Due to their impartiality, they will act as a mediator in disputes.
• The TBMM Rules of Procedure and the Enforcement Law will be changed.
• The Central Bank will be given constitutional status.
• Legislative proposals will be discussed in a more comprehensive manner in Parliament. Opinions will also be taken from NGOs in the committees.

WHICH ARTICLES WILL NOT BE TOUCHED?

ARTICLE 1: The State of Turkey is a Republic.

ARTICLE 2: The Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular and social state governed by the rule of law, within the notions of public peace, national solidarity and justice, respecting human rights, loyal to the nationalism of Atatürk, and based on the fundamental tenets set forth in the Preamble.

ARTICLE 3: The State of Turkey, with its territory and nation, is an indivisible entity. Its language is Turkish. Its flag, the form of which is prescribed by the relevant law, is the white crescent-starred red flag. Its national anthem is the “Independence March”. Its capital is Ankara.

ARTICLE 4: The provision of the 1st article of the Constitution regarding the form of the State being a Republic, the characteristics of the Republic in the 2nd article, and the provisions of the 3rd article shall not be amended, nor shall their amendment be proposed.

ARTICLE 66: Everyone bound to the Turkish State through the bond of citizenship is a Turk. The child of a Turkish father or a Turkish mother is a Turk. Citizenship is acquired under the conditions stipulated by law and is lost only in cases specified by law. No Turk shall be deprived of citizenship unless they engage in an act incompatible with loyalty to the motherland. The path to the judiciary cannot be closed against decisions and proceedings regarding the deprivation of citizenship.