Striking message from the Palace regarding Erdoğan's candidacy: He also touched upon constitutional amendment

Mehmet Uçum, one of President Erdoğan's advisors, published an article on his social media account titled "Efforts to distort the new constitution agenda." In the article, it was clearly stated that the new constitution is Turkey's ordinary agenda and that the debates will not end until this constitution is adopted:

The new constitution is our country's ordinary agenda. This debate will never end until a new constitution is adopted. Everyone must now accept this reality. A new constitution has turned into an objective necessity for Turkey. No distortion or black propaganda can veil this objective necessity or diminish its importance.

ERDOĞAN'S RE-CANDIDACY WITH THE NEW CONSTITUTION

Stating that the claims that the People's Alliance will pave the way for Erdoğan to run again with a new constitution are completely false, Uçum said that Erdoğan does not need a new constitution for his re-candidacy:

There is no need for a new constitution or a constitutional amendment for President Erdoğan to be a candidate once more. The current constitution already provides this possibility. This possibility, which we call exceptional candidacy, is activated by the decision of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) to renew the elections, which can be taken a certain time before the general elections that must be held on May 7, 2028.

HE EXPLAINED HOW ERDOĞAN CAN BE A CANDIDATE

Uçum said that in the last quarter of 2027, if the parliament decides to renew the elections with the votes of at least 360 deputies and with Erdoğan's approval, he could be a candidate for the last time:

For example, if the TBMM decides to renew the elections in the last quarter of 2027 with the votes of at least 360 deputies, and if President Erdoğan chooses to do so, he will be a candidate for the last time.

"ERDOĞAN DOES NOT NEED IT, TURKEY NEEDS ERDOĞAN"

Reminding of Erdoğan's statement, "I have no concern about being a candidate," Uçum said, "As we have expressed many times before, it is the country's need for President Erdoğan to serve Turkey for one more term in both external and internal processes with his comprehensive experience and effective leadership," and stated 'in summary' that Erdoğan does not need to be president again, but Turkey needs Erdoğan:

In summary, President Erdoğan does not need to be president again, but Turkey needs President Erdoğan once more. This has nothing to do with a new constitution or a constitutional amendment. The provision for exceptional candidacy already exists in the current constitution.

The full text of advisor Uçum's article on 'candidacy' is as follows:

The new constitution is our country's ordinary agenda. This debate will never end until a new constitution is adopted. Everyone must now accept this reality. A new constitution has turned into an objective necessity for Turkey. No distortion or black propaganda can veil this objective necessity or diminish its importance.

Why a new constitution is needed has been explained thoroughly many times. Our President Erdoğan emphasized the issue once again with these words:

"The demand for a new constitution is actually based on a promise the nation received from the political institution. As politicians, we promised to make a new constitution every time we appeared before the nation. This is not just our promise. Other parties also gave this word. We say; let this nation be completely rid of the coup constitution. Let civilians make a constitution that strengthens civilian politics and democracy. As the AK Party and the People's Alliance, we are sincere about a new, civilian, and libertarian constitution. The constitution is the common roof of the nation, and we are ready to build that roof together."

This statement also shows that the goal of a new constitution is a matter of general politics whose compass is solely the well-being of Turkey, rather than current politics.

Of course, the need for a new constitution has many aspects. However, the fundamental issues that will meet the needs specific to our day and secure the future from a constitutional perspective are decisive.

Among these are; the needs of today's person as a citizen, individual, and family member, the national needs and the needs of the nation-state in a world dominated by power struggles, and the needs of the nation, society, and the public specific to the era. Furthermore, there are aspects of the need for system development, which must always be worked on, that need to be met at the level of a new constitution. No one can claim that these needs can be fully met with the 1982 coup constitution.

While there is almost a necessity regarding the new constitution, the effort to erode the goal of a new constitution is a narrow-minded, self-serving, and even at times provocative approach against the well-being of Turkey.

We will address some of the distortions and black propaganda regarding the new constitution in a few articles.

Let us touch upon the claim here that "the path to candidacy for President Erdoğan in the upcoming general elections is being sought to be opened with a new constitution." This claim is a complete lie.

There is no need for a new constitution or a constitutional amendment for President Erdoğan to be a candidate once more. The current constitution already provides this possibility. This possibility, which we call exceptional candidacy, is activated by the decision of the TBMM to renew the elections, which can be taken a certain time before the general elections that must be held on May 7, 2028.

For example, if the TBMM decides to renew the elections in the last quarter of 2027 with the votes of at least 360 deputies, and if President Erdoğan chooses to do so, he will be a candidate for the last time.

Even though our President says, "I have no concern about being a candidate," as we have expressed many times before, it is the country's need for President Erdoğan to serve Turkey for one more term in both external and internal processes with his comprehensive experience and effective leadership. President Erdoğan's candidacy and election will make a great contribution to Turkey in the coming period, where we are at a historical threshold in terms of completing the establishment of our Republic, which has been continuing for over a century.

In summary, President Erdoğan does not need to be president again, but Turkey needs President Erdoğan once more. This has nothing to do with a new constitution or a constitutional amendment. The provision for exceptional candidacy already exists in the current constitution.