Mithat Sancar, a member of the DEM Party Imralı Delegation and MP for Şanlıurfa, along with Imralı Secretariat member Çetin Arkaş and former Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Gültan Kışanak, met with journalists in Ankara. One of the main agenda items of the meeting was the discussions surrounding a new constitution.
Sancar stated that a new constitution must be drafted, but that this process should be carried out with the "broadest possible social and political participation." Noting that conditions must be made suitable for discussions to progress in a healthy manner, Sancar pointed to the need for a foundation free from practices and legal regulations that hinder free debate.
Sancar also expressed their opposition to narrowing the constitutional discussions to limited topics. He emphasized that the Kurdish issue, democracy, freedoms, and the rule of law should be addressed together.
Gültan Kışanak, for her part, said there has been a broad consensus since the day the 1982 Constitution was enacted that it needs to be changed. Stating that Turkey needs a new constitution, Kışanak nevertheless expressed that she is not hopeful that the necessary social and political consensus will emerge in the short term.
Kışanak said, "We cannot move forward with this constitution. First of all, it carries the spirit of a coup. It has turned into a patchwork quilt with changes made here and there." Arguing that the current constitution does not respond to the need for a democratic republic, Kışanak noted that the issue of how the constitution will be drafted is a serious problem.
Stating that regulations regarding freedom of the press and expression, freedom of association, the strengthening of local democracy, and the abolition of the trustee (kayyım) system are urgent, Kışanak expressed that the concerns and question marks in society must be addressed.
Kışanak also criticized the direct linking of the new constitution debate to the presidential election. Stating that she finds this approach "very shallow," Kışanak said she does not foresee a constitutional amendment agenda in the short term.
News Source: 12punto
