He had targeted Article 4 of the Constitution: Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu defended himself

Hüda Par Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu, who openly targeted Article 4 of the Constitution, defended himself during a live broadcast. Yapıcıoğlu stated that they have no issues with the Republic or the flag.

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He had targeted Article 4 of the Constitution: Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu defended himself

Hüda Par Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu defended his statements regarding Article 4 of the Constitution and criticized the CHP. Speaking to Yeni Şafak, Yapıcıoğlu claimed that the CHP is deliberately pulling constitutional debates into the wrong places.

Yapıcıoğlu stated that they have no issues with the National Anthem, the Turkish flag, the capital city, or the Republic, saying, "We are defending the Republic in the true sense. What the CHP wants is a Republic without the people."

ARTICLE 4 WAS ADDED AFTER THE 1980 CONSTITUTION

Yapıcıoğlu said that Article 4, which is among the unchangeable articles of the Constitution, was added after the 1980 coup and that no such article existed in previous constitutions. Reminding that the CHP calls the May 27 coup a 'revolution' and characterizes the September 12 coup as a 'counter-revolution,' Yapıcıoğlu said, "The CHP is now defending this article, written by Kenan Evren—whom they previously defined as a fascist—as the 'founding will.' This is doing Kenanism under the mask of Kemalism."

I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THE FLAG AND THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

Yapıcıoğlu stated that the CHP is trying to pull them onto a different ground of debate, saying, "We have no issues with the flag, the National Anthem, or the Republic. The crescent on the flag is a symbol of Islam. The sentence in the National Anthem, 'These calls to prayer, which are the foundations of the faith,' does not bother us," he said.

Yapıcıoğlu argued that the CHP is uncomfortable with the National Anthem, noting that the National Anthem, adopted in 1921, was not included in either the 1924 or 1961 Constitutions. He claimed that the CHP, especially during the February 28 process, read the 10th Year March instead of the National Anthem and banned the call to prayer.

WHAT HAD ZEKERIYA YAPICIOĞLU SAID?

Hüda Par Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu had said in a live broadcast on a television channel that they want Article 4 of the Constitution to be abolished. Yapıcıoğlu had stated the following:

"I said it one by one as if explaining it to a fool, yet they insist on not understanding. We are saying let there not be an Article 4 of the Constitution. Let me look at the camera and say it again; we are saying let there not be an Article 4 of the Constitution. Having unchangeable articles in the Constitution does not mean that we should change all the articles you call unchangeable. We are against Article 4 of the Constitution. Is that clear, did you understand? Article 4 is placing a mortgage on the will of future generations. Let us sit down and write the other articles together. Not the first 4 articles, but Article 4."

ERDOĞAN: "THERE IS NO DEBATE FOR US"

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, regarding the debate that started after Hüda Par Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu requested the abolition of Article 4 of the Constitution, had said, "We believe that maximalist rhetoric, instead of contributing to constitutional debates, will actually hinder them. I am underlining it again; there is no debate for us regarding the first 4 articles of the Constitution. In particular, the People's Alliance has no such trouble, no such concern. Our party's stance, attitude, and approach on this matter are very clear."

ÖZEL TO BAHÇELİ: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THIS HÜDA PAR?

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel had reminded MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli of the statements by Hüda Par leader Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu, who wants Article 4 of the Constitution to be abolished, and had used the expressions, "I am asking Bahçeli; what do you say to this Hüda Par? Who is with whom?"

Özgür Özel had said the following:

"Unthinkable things were done for the sake of 3-5 votes, and they continue to be done. Alliances with this and that. The most beautiful alliance is our alliance, the Turkey Alliance. Another alliance is Hüda Par. Hüda Par, which opposes women's right to vote and be elected, has come out and said 'we are against the first 4 articles of the Constitution.' They silenced them during the election time. Now they say we are against Article 4 of the Constitution. 'They are against the capital of the Republic of Turkey, Ankara. They are against the flag, they are against the National Anthem, they are against the Republic.'

You cannot hold a microbe accountable by asking 'why are you causing disease?' A microbe is a microbe. But those who say I am a nationalist conservative... I am asking Bahçeli; what do you say to this Hüda Par? Who is with whom?"

IT CREATED A CRACK IN THE PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE

Hüda Par Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu's request for the amendment of Article 4 of the Constitution had caused a debate within the People's Alliance.

While AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik reacted to Yapıcıoğlu with the words, "We have no debate regarding Article 4 of the Constitution. Amendment proposals are not positive from our perspective," support for Yapıcıoğlu had come from Mehmet Metiner.

Former AKP MP Metiner had used the expressions, "Opposing amendment demands regarding the first 4 articles of the Constitution and opposing the discussion of amendment demands are two different stances. The first is a democratic right; the second is a line that is quite problematic in terms of democracy."

Metiner, arguing that the CHP is in power with its spirit and mentality even if not physically, had said, "One should not underestimate the ideological-mental gain of the CHP. It is such a power that it can make even its most oppositional figures resemble itself. Only the color of that spirit and mentality changes periodically, but its essence, as I see it, always remains. A true radical change is currently impossible (a fantasy)."

AKP MKYK Member Orhan Miroğlu had also said, "Those who see even the proposal to change the articles that the September 12 coup plotters put into the constitution as treason continue to make statements from the top of the state," and added, "The coup mentality is stronger than it was 10 years ago. If the fight against coups remains limited to anniversary commemorations that fit into a few sentences, it may be too late tomorrow."

Responding to CHP Chairman Özgür Özel's question, "Bahçeli, what do you say to this Hüda Par?", MHP Deputy Chairman İsmail Özdemir had reacted to Yapıcıoğlu's proposal with the words, “The debates that are intended to be started are empty and futile. The MHP's stance, will, and determination on this matter are clear, explicit, and definitive.”

News Source: 12punto