Who can draft a 'Constitution' and how?

While the Middle East is being torn apart like carded wool and a massacre of human life is taking place on Palestinian lands recklessly planned by the Israel-UK-US axis, the political power in Turkey has become enamored with the idea of drafting a new constitution. The AKP has long been unable to stop talking about a new constitution. In its early years, a draft constitution suited to its own mindset and nature was implicitly presented to society, and some of its provisions were even implemented personally. However, a situation is emerging where the color of the matter seems to have changed following the hell in the Middle East and the increasing frequency of Turkey-US meetings. In the face of such a danger, or rather a threat, it is appropriate to dwell on this subject as frequently as possible with the conviction that one must remain vigilant. 

Naturally, since nothing is taboo, constitutions are not taboo either and can be changed based on need. In this case, let us look at how much Turkey needs a new constitution, a topic we will address as much as necessary from now on. But before that, it is necessary to discuss the procedure for drafting a constitution. The reason for such an order is that in every endeavor, procedure takes precedence over substance; following procedure is an indispensable rule of law. The most vital point to be made regarding procedure is that it is out of the question for members of parliament who have entered the assembly by taking an oath according to a given constitution to embark on drafting a new one, regardless of their position or office, except for proposing necessary amendments to the existing constitution. This rule also includes the President, who occupies the highest office in politics. Since the political cadre in power has taken an oath according to the given constitution, the public's vote is implicitly valid only under this assumption. 

The procedures for drafting a new constitution are very clear. Specifically, a temporary, impartial authority established under the name of a "Constituent Assembly," which dissolves after its task is completed, can draft a new constitution. The currently established parliament cannot draft a new constitution; it can only make necessary arrangements in some provisions of the existing constitution in accordance with the spirit of the constitution. Let us imagine, please: in a football match, because the players do not like the rules, can they pause the match and set new rules on the sidelines according to their own interests? The drafting of a new constitution by a political cadre in power is similar to a football team setting new game rules in the middle of the game according to their own wishes. 

When we look at the situation where the existing government violates all rules to draft a new constitution, we cannot think very positively. Because the mindset with which a political cadre that has tried to maintain state administration with an almost lawless style can draft a constitution is proven by the method it has applied for over twenty years. It is unthinkable for the same cadre to be the architect of a constitution, as this method is contrary to modern state administration and the legal regime, in terms of the country's interests.

Since even the unchangeable provisions of the constitution have been deeply wounded under the dominance of the current political cadre, the principles of the social state, secularism, and the rule of law might perhaps be preserved in wording in a possible new constitution initiative, but they could be eliminated in spirit. The articles in question are the fundamental guarantees of very basic citizenship rights such as women's rights, freedom of religion, and social security.  

In a constitution-making process to be undertaken by the current political power, the possibility of preserving the nation-state structure, which is eroding within the framework of globalization conditions, is almost non-existent. In the new order where imperialism attacks from all four sides, we must perceive the Greater Middle East Project more clearly in today's conditions where the Middle East is being torn apart like carded wool. It is impossible to think that a politician and political cadre appointed to duty by another powerful country, despite being the elected president of a country, could construct a new constitution based on national sovereignty and freedoms, or that they could possess this power. This subject must be continuously addressed. 

The image displayed by the existing government, which is attempting to draft a new constitution, regarding the country's health as well as education, which is a very basic right of citizenship, has nothing to do with the economic situation or necessities. Because the country's resources are sufficient to establish and operate both a qualified education and a qualified health system. The issue in the erosion of these basic services is not resources, but mindset and the consolidation of the voter base. Because as the ratio of the educated population among the youth in the country rises, the AKP's voter base erodes. Such being the case, the existing political cadre is attempting to realize its only ambition, which is to remain in power, by endangering the welfare of the country. It should not be difficult to imagine how this mindset could be realized in a contemplated new constitution.

During its twenty-plus years in power, the impasse into which the AKP has dragged the country economically is being attempted to be alleviated in the final analysis by relying on exploitative foreign hot money sources. The first example of this, as is known, is the 2000 IMF-Derviş project. The appearance of the early years of the AKP being positive is a period of false abundance created by borrowing, which resulted from this project opening our country to exploitative foreign capital and foreign capital and investment projects bringing their investments to our country to commit robbery. We are stuck in such a pit while paying the bills of that period, which appeared as abundance. While global capitalism is experiencing its deep crisis, and central capitalism is trying to exploit peripheral countries with their precious metals and underground resources, we must take into account whose secret ambitions and hands might be behind a new constitution designed by a political structure that has put the country into deep economic distress and does not want to lose its power at any cost.

The most crucial point of the new constitution will be the definition of "citizenship" and the issue of the "official language." In the Middle East cauldron, which is being stirred by the Israel-UK-US cooperation, it is necessary to think deeply about the reasons why Turkey, which is in a very important and strategic position, is standing up with the drafting of a new constitution, as well as who the boss is.

On one hand, in terms of the aim of ensuring political survival by masking its extremely worn-out image, and on the other hand, in terms of accepting the appointment to the imperialist "Greater Middle East Project" without receiving consent from the nation, despite being a political figure elected by the nation, the new constitution drafting initiative of the existing political cadre is objectionable. While public opinion should prevail in the drafting of a new constitution, it is also an indispensable condition to stay away from the breezes of imperialists. 

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  This article is a partially modified version of my article published in Gazete Manifesto on November 18, 2025, due to the topicality of the subject.