First the People's Alliance, then the presidential system constitution emphasis: After Bahçeli, Uçum takes the stage

As the AKP's 'new constitution' efforts continue, developments and statements among coalition partners are also making their way onto the political agenda. Most recently, MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli drew attention with a '17-25 December' clock visible in his office while hosting Fenerbahçe Chairman Ali Koç. Much discussion followed about what message Bahçeli intended to send with that image, and Bahçeli subsequently made a statement referencing the solidity of the People's Alliance.

Shortly after Bahçeli's statement, Mehmet Uçum — Chief Adviser to AKP leader and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan — entered the agenda with a post signalling that their main priority is a 'new constitution.' 

Uçum, apparently wishing to underline that there is no problem within the alliance, titled his post: 'Our regular agenda: a new constitution.'

Here are Uçum's words:

OUR REGULAR AGENDA: A NEW CONSTITUTION

Turkey's regular agenda — the debate over a 'New Constitution' — is once again coming to the fore. This debate will continue until our country achieves a new constitution. A new constitution is Turkey's objective need, independent of subjective assessments and individual wills. Until that need is met, a new constitution will remain our country's regular agenda. 

Of course, even though a new constitution is the goal, it is broadly accepted across society that this will not be a construction built from scratch, from a blank slate. 

A constitution that enshrines the Republic, the founding leader of our Republic Atatürk, the unitary structure, a democratic, secular, social state and rule of law based on justice and human rights, with Turkish as the official language, the crescent-and-star Al Bayrak as the flag, İstiklal Marşı as the national anthem, Ankara as the capital, and that includes the principle of unamendability regarding these provisions (i.e. the first four articles) — this is indispensable for our Nation.

In the new constitution, preserving and developing the presidential system — the fundamental gain of the people's will — and the principle of democratic legitimacy with respect to all branches of power, as well as maintaining the 50%+1 rule, is a requirement of the victories won in the people's struggle for democracy. 

It is clear that the principles of our Republic and our democratic heritage are the foundation — the most solid bedrock — of the new constitution.

What Could the Core Principles of the New Constitution Be:

A 'new constitution' that will rise on the foundation of the Republic and democracy, that will — 43 years later, in 2025 — finally free us completely from the coup constitution, with its name, its philosophy, and its content suited to our era.

A 'civilian constitution' drafted in accordance with the demands and will of the people, not the demands and will of institutional structures and elites.

An 'inclusive constitution' in which the approach of an encompassing Turkish Nation and Turkish Citizenship — in which every individual in Turkey regards themselves as a constituent element — is paramount.

A 'libertarian constitution' in which all individual rights and freedoms are fully enshrined, new-generation rights and freedoms are defined, and rights and freedoms are the rule while restrictions are the exception.

A 'protective constitution' that guarantees the protection and development of individuals' material and spiritual existence; that guarantees the protection of nature, the environment, the climate, the seas, coastlines, forests, water resources, natural resources, and underground wealth, as well as their proper use in the public interest; and that contains legal measures to serve the purpose of protecting people against natural disasters.

A 'social constitution' that enables a wide range of social justice approaches and new social policies — including universal income security, general equality of opportunity, a fair minimum wage for workers, the right to free healthcare, the right to free education, full social security rights, additional support for vulnerable social groups, the development of various social assistance and social service opportunities, the full realisation of the right to work, and a transition to a fair income distribution system that narrows the gaps between income groups in an upward direction.

A 'constitution enabling advanced democracy' through institutions such as: the right to electronic participation for the development of e-democracy and citizen-initiated democratic processes; the people's right to recall their members of parliament; the people's right to propose legislation; the people's right to an abrogative referendum; the people's right to apply to the Constitutional Court for abstract norm review; the diversification and strengthening of channels and opportunities for public participation in the legislative process; and structures and functions through which the people's will can be effective in judicial processes.

Every sovereign state produces and applies law with a survival-based political-legal understanding when creating and implementing positive law. Indeed, this is what many Western states do. A legal application that would create a threat to the state's survival, or that would provide ground and strength to such threats, is not legitimate from the perspective of a sovereign state and can never be accepted. For this reason, a 'national constitution' that guarantees the protection and development of the state's material and spiritual existence, and that enables the full territorial independence of the country to be protected and strengthened in all its dimensions.

OUR REGULAR AGENDA
A NEW CONSTITUTION

Turkey's regular agenda — the debate over a 'New Constitution' — is once again coming to the fore. This debate will continue until our country achieves a new constitution. A new constitution is Turkey's objective need, independent of subjective assessments and individual wills. This…

— Mehmet Uçum (@mehmetucum) August 20, 2024

WHAT DID BAHÇELİ SAY?

Bahçeli's statement about the People's Alliance was as follows:

The People's Alliance is the existential reflex of Turkish history, the symbol of the Turkish nation's existence and unity.

At a time when the global economic-political system is being rebuilt from scratch, and Turkey is being unjustly and shamelessly portrayed as the country with the highest risk of internal turmoil in the coming year, the People's Alliance is the national guarantee and the nation's self-confidence.

Our alliance — grounded in reason and morality, which brings together the people and the Republic as the guardian and axis of our rights to independence and the future — is the defender of our honour.

Those who write dark scenarios about our Turkey, who construct newfangled equations of chaos, who plan for it to be a passive and manipulable country on the stage of history, have lately begun to spin the wheel of rumour rapidly and to fortify and reinforce the front of sedition at an increasing scale.

Those who think this alarming picture has escaped our notice are, without doubt, rotten souls drifting in a deep whirlpool of heedlessness and malice.

The 17-25 December judicial and security coup process is the incubation phase of the 15 July FETÖ treachery. The framework of the 15 July occupation attempt was laid during the 17-25 December process.

For this reason, it is neither possible nor correct to remove either FETÖ's 15 July armed uprising or the 17-25 December plot from our memory and our agenda.

Leaving aside the fact that the fifth-column elements who have taken it upon themselves to tarnish the spotless struggle of the People's Alliance are rowing in vain, it is an absolute and inevitable fate that their ambitions and targets — framed by treachery — will remain stuck in their throats.

I must particularly and repeatedly remind that global internet platforms, social media channels, organised interest groups, and certain newspapers and television channels (especially Halk TV) are doomed to end up in frustration and disappointment for raising a clamour as if there were a crack in the People's Alliance. Of course, a reckoning with these circles when the time comes is unavoidable.

The People's Alliance will continue its blessed march as the herald of the Turkish and Turkey Century, and as the dignity and excitement reward for future generations.

The People's Alliance is the existential reflex of Turkish history, the symbol of the Turkish nation's existence and unity.

At a time when the global economic-political system is being rebuilt from scratch, and Turkey is being unjustly and shamelessly portrayed as the country with the highest risk of internal turmoil in the coming year…

— Devlet Bahçeli (@dbdevletbahceli) August 20, 2024

News Source: 12punto