A 'new constitution' message from Mehmet Uçum! A response to Kurtulmuş and Yıldırım?

Mehmet Uçum, Chief Advisor to the President and Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Legal Policies Board, once again addressed the new constitution debates in his routine weekend article.

Former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım had previously targeted the first four articles of the constitution under the shadow of new constitution debates, proposing the removal of the definition of "Turkishness."

Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, in a statement made in October 2024, had suggested that the phrase "indivisible integrity of the state with its territory and nation" should also be changed, stating, "The state does not have a territory. The state does not have a nation. This text should be expressed as 'the indivisible integrity of the nation with its state and territory.' I believe it is important to reconsider this elitist, statist understanding in the new constitution with a state understanding that rises on the power of the nation." Kurtulmuş later backtracked on his words following a harsh reaction from MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli.

Mehmet Uçum, in his article titled "A New Constitution with the Spirit of 2023", included the statement, "The spirit of the new constitution is neither 1921 nor 1924."

Arguing that the new constitution should possess the spirit of 2023 and be seen as a symbol of the Republic's centennial, Uçum stated, "It is certain that the new constitution will protect and strengthen existing safeguards against imperialist projects aimed at dividing Turkey by opening up discussions on the Turkish Nation, Turkish Citizenship, and the Language of the State, i.e., the official language, Turkish."

??SUNDAY ARTICLE

NOTES ON THE NEW CONSTITUTION (1)

A New Constitution with the Spirit of 2023

When looking at the discussions on the new constitution, it is seen that emphasis is sometimes placed on the constitutional accumulation of the Republican era.

The 1921 Constitution in terms of our War of Independence process, the 1924 Constitution...

— Mehmet Uçum (@mehmetucum) March 9, 2025

The full text of the article shared by Uçum on his X account is as follows:

“When looking at the discussions on the new constitution, it is seen that emphasis is sometimes placed on the constitutional accumulation of the Republican era.

The 1921 Constitution is a missionary constitution in terms of our War of Independence process, and the 1924 Constitution is one in terms of our Founding process. We truly possess a history of two constitutions that are milestones of the Liberation and the Founding.

The 1961 Constitution, a product of a coup, and the 1982 Constitution, which is still in force and also a product of a coup, have been added to our constitutional history. In terms of our constitutional history, we can also mention the 1876 Constitution. In fact, when evaluated within the framework of constitutional movements, the Reform Edict (1856), the Tanzimat Edict (1839), and the Deed of Alliance (1808) are also taken into account.

All these texts have an important place in our history of constitutionalism, alongside their positive aspects, with their negative aspects, especially those influenced by Westernism and stemming from coup-plotting. That is, historically, our constitutional acquis is strong in every respect.

However, now that the centennial of the Republic has been completed, it must be underlined that the basic references and spirit of the civil, democratic, libertarian, and inclusive new constitution that our country deserves will not emerge from this constitutional accumulation, except for the founding principles that ensure continuity. It is neither possible nor appropriate to take inspiration at a decisive level for a new constitution from constitutions that were accepted under wartime conditions or that formed the framework for a single-party order, other than to protect the founding principles.

It is important to benefit from historical accumulation. However, the correct approach is to protect the gains and founding principles of this accumulation that have been carried to the present day, and to learn lessons from its shortcomings and mistakes.

The gains of our national independence struggle and constitutional accumulation spanning over a century are; the Republic, the Unitary Structure, Secularism, the Rule of Law, Democracy, and the Presidential System. The new constitution must, of course, take these founding principles and gains as a basis and strengthen them.

Our founding principles and gains have ensured the unity of the nation and increased the power of our people.

The principle of national sovereignty has determined the form of our state as a republic.

The unity of central-local administration has determined the structure of our state as a unitary structure.

The full exercise of national sovereignty through the will of the people has been guaranteed.

Our democracy has been strengthened by increasing the voting power of our people. By linking systemic principles to the principle of social legitimacy, the possibilities for our democracy to reach the highest level of inclusivity have been created.

When the new constitution is handled with this perspective;

- it is expected to have a content that will protect all our founding principles and gains,

- ensure systemic harmony and internal consistency,

- and bring new gains with a regime of rights and freedoms suitable for the age,

and there is no doubt that it will be so.

Furthermore, it is certain that the new constitution will protect and strengthen existing safeguards against imperialist projects aimed at dividing Turkey by opening up discussions on the Turkish Nation, Turkish Citizenship, and the Language of the State, i.e., the official language, Turkish.

In conclusion, the spirit of the new constitution is neither 1921 nor 1924. The new constitution must possess the spirit of 2023 and should be seen as a symbol of the centennial of our Republic. It should be prepared with a philosophy that embraces the future in accordance with our 2053 and 2071 visions.”

News Source: 12punto