Politics
Witnesses claim voters bribed to support Turkish opposition chair Özel
Eyewitnesses confirmed vote-buying allegations Monday as defendants appeared in an Ankara court regarding the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) 2023 intraparty election.
“I know a provincial chair received $300,000 from the Istanbul team,” a man who acted as a voting delegate in the election at what critics call a “shady” convention.
Özgür Özel defeated incumbent Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in the intraparty election that marked the start of a new era in Türkiye’s oldest political party.
The Kılıçdaroğlu loyalists have been largely silenced by Özel and Istanbul’s former Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu emerged as a future presidential candidate after he switched sides to Özel, openly plotting to replace Kılıçdaroğlu.
Former members of the CHP, including the former mayor of Hatay province, have filed the lawsuit over the 2023 election, accusing Özel, Istanbul officials of the CHP and other prominent party figures of bribing the delegates to vote for him.
Y.G., whose initials were released to the public, said at Monday’s hearing that he was a CHP delegate in Erzurum and the provincial chair told him and other delegates that he would negotiate with “people in Ankara” and when he returned from the capital, “he handed everyone 50 euros ($58.88).”
“Prior to the election, the provincial chair told me that he needed four signatures (of delegates, for election procedures). He delivered $1,000 to everyone agreeing to sign,” he said.
He added that the chairperson later asked them to take photos of the ballots they cast and post them on a closed WhatsApp group chat.
“I know the chairperson himself was paid $300,000 in exchange for swaying the votes,” he claimed.
Y.Ö., another delegate, said the provincial chair of Batman province, where he was registered, asked them to vote for Özel. When he refused, he was allegedly expelled from the party.
S.T., another delegate, said boxes of cellphones were all around the hall where the voting took place and he saw every voter was handed “a leather bag containing something which was not cash,” he said.
He claimed that someone called him before the voting and offered up to 500 euros in exchange for voting for Özel.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit demand that the congress be declared “absolutely null and void,” which would strip Özel of power and restore Kılıçdaroğlu’s team or even impose a court-appointed trustee.
The CHP has spent most of 2025 reeling from corruption scandals in the municipalities it ran and the trial over the intraparty election. Party figures complained that the trial was “political” and should have been rejected outright.
Turkish officials, however, have repeatedly underlined that the judiciary in Türkiye acts independently, with courts free to rule based on legal procedures rather than political pressure.
The case is significant because of the precedent set in Istanbul, where the court already replaced CHP officials with trustees. The plaintiffs in the congress case sought the same remedy, though the court refrained from granting it in September.
Kılıçdaroğlu, ousted after more than a decade at the helm, has stayed silent during the proceedings. His lawyer insists he did not initiate the case. Still, many party members support his return and speculation abounds about his role if “absolute nullity” is declared.
The CHP officials loyal to Özel accuse pro-Kılıçdaroğlu factions of undermining party unity. The leadership insists it will not be destabilized by “any scenario,” but the undercurrent of rivalry is unmistakable.
Adding to the tension are quiet discussions within party circles about the possibility of a new political formation if Kılıçdaroğlu were to take back control and refuse to call a congress promptly.
Some party figures warn that such a move could accelerate fractures within the CHP and pave the way for breakaway groups to establish a rival opposition party.
The deputy foreign minister Monday urged the international community not to remain silent in the face of the genocide in Gaza continuing “in front of our eyes,” warning that the global human rights system is under mounting strain amid deep geopolitical fractures.
Mehmet Kemal Bozay, Türkiye’s deputy foreign minister and head of European Union affairs, delivered a video message at the opening of the 61st session of the U.N. Human Rights Council (HRC), saying the world was witnessing “an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023.
“Gaza has witnessed an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe since Oct. 7, 2023,” Bozay said. “The magnitude of civilian suffering, the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and the continuous obstruction of humanitarian aid constitute grave violations of international human rights.”
He added that the council “must not remain silent in the face of a genocide taking place in front of our eyes.”
Bozay said the international community bears responsibility to actively support recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza and argued that a just and lasting peace can only be achieved through the establishment of an independent, sovereign and unified Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He stressed that peace and security in the region cannot be considered separately from Israel’s full compliance with international law.
According to figures from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at least 72,045 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and 171,686 injured since Israel’s genocidal attacks began.
Those numbers include people who died because hospitals shut down, medicine ran out and water systems failed due to Israel’s blockade.
Since the cease-fire took hold between Hamas and Israel, about 611 Palestinians have been killed and 1,630 injured through Feb. 19, 2026, including casualties from Israeli airstrikes, shelling and gunfire.
Israeli forces continue to occupy an estimated 53% to 58% of Gaza, restricting access to farmland, infrastructure and humanitarian facilities.
Addressing broader global challenges, Bozay said the international system is undergoing a profound transformation, with multilateralism increasingly under pressure and collective action becoming more difficult. In that context, he said, preserving and strengthening the Human Rights Council is indispensable.
Turning to Syria, Bozay said there is a window of opportunity to establish sustainable stability and prosperity. He noted that recent developments on the ground have increased hopes for a unified Syria and said the Syrian government’s comprehensive approach, including efforts to embrace different segments of society and develop accountability mechanisms that respect human rights, has been positively received.
He called on all stakeholders to exercise restraint and support social cohesion measures so as not to undermine the vision of a unified Syria, adding that Türkiye will remain a supportive partner for stability, security and economic development there.
Bozay also addressed the long-standing Cyprus dispute, saying Turkish Cypriots were forcibly deprived of their inherent rights in 1963 when the Greek Cypriots usurped control of the 1960 partnership state. He called for an end to the inhumane embargoes and unjust isolation imposed on Turkish Cypriots and urged the international community to reaffirm their “sovereign equality and equal international status.”
On the war between Russia and Ukraine, Bozay said diplomacy and negotiations remain the only viable path to the “tragic conflict.” He also pointed to the “historic opportunity for lasting peace in the South Caucasus,” saying steps taken between Azerbaijan and Armenia have strengthened hopes for durable stability. Türkiye, he added, is continuing its normalization process with Armenia.
Bozay expressed support for regional and international initiatives aimed at ending the conflict in Sudan, alleviating human suffering and preserving the country’s unity and security. He said Afghanistan continues to face deep humanitarian and human rights challenges that require sustainable and constructive international engagement, and called for a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis to ensure the voluntary, safe and dignified return of displaced people to their homeland.
Moreover, he said Türkiye is continuing dialogue with China regarding the Uyghur Turks and warned that anti-Muslim hatred, racism, xenophobia and far-right hate speech are on the rise globally. Bozay said U.N. Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18 remains a balanced and effective framework for action against intolerance.
As one of the world’s leading refugee-hosting countries, Bozay said Türkiye fulfills its responsibilities with common sense and respect for human rights.
International solidarity, responsibility-sharing and equitable burden-sharing on migration and refugees are not optional but essential, he added, pledging that Türkiye will continue to advocate for international law, human rights and human dignity for all.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli hailed the latest stage in the terror-free Türkiye initiative that he helped conceive in 2024, but pointed out that more needs to be done.
The initiative, which aims to disarm the terrorist group PKK, has largely succeeded so far. It took a new turn last week when a parliamentary committee approved a final report on proposals for new laws and regulations to facilitate the process. The initiative has been unilateral, after the PKK announced it would dissolve itself following a February 2025 call by its jailed ringleader, Abdullah Öcalan. Lawmakers are now expected to discuss amendments to existing laws or implement new ones for the integration of PKK members not involved in acts of terrorism.
Critics of the initiative claim that the PKK would get away with the crimes it committed, and Bahçeli on Tuesday highlighted that authorities should be careful not to create such a perception. “It is precious to have a joint understanding (at the committee) on full dissolution of the PKK, its disarmament and the need for enactment of legal amendments to that extent. It is significant that the parliamentary report emphasized an independent and temporary legal amendment to manage the process, which involves disarmament and its aftermath, along with reinforcement of social integration. We have to have a legal framework that will not succumb to the perception of amnesty and impunity,” Bahçeli stressed.
“The dignity of Turks is the same as Kurds,” he said.
Bahçeli often highlights Turkish-Kurdish unity in the promotion of the terror-free Türkiye initiative. The PKK, for decades, has exploited disadvantaged members of the Kurdish community to recruit members to its cause of establishing a so-called “Kurdistan.”
Addressing the parliamentary group meeting of the MHP, Bahçeli said the terror-free Türkiye goal confirmed the might of the Turkish state and nation and charted the road for a new century of Türkiye with “unwavering unity.” He hailed the fact that Parliament took the highest level of initiative and all political parties except a few acted responsibly on the matter. He said that the committee’s report made up the most important leg of sincere efforts to achieve the goal of a terror-free Türkiye and slammed those criticizing the report.
“The National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Committee took up a historical role and was founded in a democratic, comprehensive way. It broke taboos,” Bahçeli said.
Türkiye tried its hand at resolving the PKK issue as early as the 1990s. Then-President Turgut Özal took the first concrete steps for a new way to resolve the problem and reached out to Iraqi Kurdish leaders viewed as close to the terrorist group. It was a time when the predecessor of the pro-PKK Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), a key actor in the terror-free Türkiye initiative, first won seats in the Turkish Parliament. Özal favored a “civilian” solution to the problem. He sought to address the problems the PKK exploited to advance its own agenda, such as more rights for Türkiye’s Kurdish community. Özal’s efforts partially paid off when the PKK briefly declared a “cease-fire.” However, several violent terrorist attacks in the same decade and Özal’s death in 1993 hindered this fledgling process that would also reportedly include a general pardon for convicted PKK members. Terrorist attacks continued until Öcalan’s capture in 1999. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the PKK reduced its terrorism campaign before another flare-up in violence.
Starting from 2012, the state launched a new process that was informally called the “reconciliation process.” The process cautiously proceeded, and the government offered expansion of rights for the Kurdish community, especially in education in their own language. The PKK scaled back its activities again, but this process ultimately collapsed too in 2015.
The PKK resumed its campaign and moved attacks from rural parts of the country to urban centers in the southeast, which hosts a predominantly Kurdish population. In response, Türkiye intensified counterterrorism operations and, in the past decade, stepped up aerial strikes and limited cross-border offensives to eradicate terrorists in Türkiye, Iraq and Syria.
The latest initiative, however, has been apparently most transparent in its approach to the issue. The parliamentary committee heard from people from all walks of life affected by terrorism, including families of terrorists themselves and representatives of pro-PKK circles. Bahçeli himself broke the MHP’s own taboos regarding the PKK, openly describing Abdullah Öcalan as “founding leader” of the terrorist group, unlike the harsh words he had for him in the past. Bahçeli, who once called for execution by hanging for Öcalan, was even gifted a rug by the PKK leader, who delivered it to the nationalist leader through a DEM Party delegation.
Bahçeli said on Tuesday that Parliament’s work should not be underestimated. “No one should dare to block our work to reinforce our unity and brotherhood with an environment of peace and calm,” he said.
“Democratization and preservation of rights and freedoms will raise the bar for economic prosperity. In Türkiye, free of terrorism, everyone will benefit. Beyond that, the step-by-step goal of establishing a terror-free zone will surround the country with a belt of peace and brotherhood. As soon as the dissolution of the terrorist group and the laying down of arms are monitored and verified by security and intelligence institutions, and once measurable criteria are clearly established, legal regulations can be implemented swiftly and transparently. Without undermining the sense of justice, tarnishing the memory of the fallen or diminishing the sacrifices of veterans, the reintegration into society of those entering a disarmed period will be carried out in phases,” he said.
Bahçeli also called on the relevant actors to carry out the full dissolution of any PKK-related entities. He said the KCK should also join it, referring to the so-called umbrella body of the PKK founded in 2005 as a self-styled umbrella organization of the PKK and its wings in Syria and Iran.
“The call (of Öcalan) is equally binding for the KCK. The immediate dissolution of the organization’s senior leadership structure must be ensured,” he said.
The MHP leader also urged defining the “status” of Öcalan.
“How will the status issue of the PKK’s founding leadership be addressed to ensure the planned steps and forthcoming regulations are realized? If such a problem exists, and in our view it does, how will it be resolved? How will the status of Imrali, which serves the goal of a terror-free Türkiye, be clarified? This debate should be conducted sincerely and resolved promptly in a manner consistent with reason and conscience,” he said. Imrali is the name of the island prison where Öcalan is incarcerated and used by Bahçeli and other politicians to avoid openly naming Öcalan.
He said that they also needed to rethink the issue of “trustee appointments.” In the past years, municipalities accused of funding the PKK and/or their mayors with links to the terrorist groups, had their assets seized, and mayors were replaced by trustees by courts.
Meeting with Kurtulmuş
Bahçeli on Tuesday also met Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, who also serves as head of the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Committee. Kurtulmuş was scheduled to visit leaders of other parties on Tuesday as part of his tour to hear their views on the terror-free initiative.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kurtulmuş said he thanked Bahçeli for his leadership and support in the process.
“This was a historical threshold for Türkiye. It is not completed now, but Parliament undertook its responsibility. Unfortunately, the work to eradicate terrorism in the past was never introduced to Parliament for a variety of reasons. This is the first time that such a committee was founded,” he noted. Kurtulmuş stated that the public feedback on the report has so far been positive.
“(The report) does not represent the view of any single political party. Nor does it reflect the joint position of one or two parties. It was brought forward as the collective work of all parties represented on the commission, put to a vote, and, more importantly, adopted with the support of 47 of 50 lawmakers. The next phase of the process must also be followed with care. The exceptionally mature and democratic approach established under the roof of Parliament must continue so that Türkiye can consign this issue to the dustbin of history once and for all. We must proceed together with the same openness, sincerity and transparency. We expect Parliament to fulfill its responsibilities and to swiftly prepare and finalize the necessary legislation in the General Assembly,” Kurtulmuş said.
Taner Çukadar, one of 200 defendants in a massive corruption trial of a businessman and a mayor from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), said that the other defendants and lawyers sought to “protect the mayor.”
Çukadar was testifying Monday at the hearing of the trial in Istanbul that began last month. His statements were similar to those of two other defendants who claimed Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district Mayor Rıza Akpolat sought to distance himself from the accusations. They also disputed the statements by Aziz İhsan Aktaş, the tycoon at the heart of the probe.
Aktaş and Akpolat were arrested in 2024, along with top municipal bureaucrats in this upscale district of Istanbul. Aktaş was accused of bribing the mayor and bureaucrats to win favors at tenders.
Both men appeared before the court when the trial started last month, Aktaş as a freed detainee thanks to his earlier collaboration with authorities.
Aktaş has rejected corruption claims and claimed the municipal officials forced him to “receive payments for the work he’s done in other forms, sale of a car, or covering the expenses of a wedding banquet.”
He said he was a distant relative of Akpolat and worked as a chauffeur for him in the past. He said the mayor’s lawyers threatened him to expose “gang relations of my 15-year-old son” to testify in favor of Akpolat.
“Akpolat tried to put my son at risk to save himself,” Çukadar told Monday’s hearing. He added that Akpolat accused his colleagues of defaming him, but it was he who defamed other defendants.
He also claimed Akpolat’s defense team sought to divert the blame in the corruption case to former deputy mayor of Beşiktaş, Alican Abacı.
Asked about his suspicious financial transactions with other defendants, Çukadar said Akpolat used his credit card for hotel and flight expenses and paid him back in cash.
In another case, he said the mayor forced him and Abacı to sell several vehicles that the municipality owned.
“When we placed an ad for them, he told us the price we offered was too low. Later, he told us that (Aktaş) would buy the vehicles. “He set a price of TL 15 million for two vehicles and I arranged the formal sale of these vehicles,” he said.
His statements corroborated with Aktaş’s earlier claims that he was “paid in vehicles” in return of debts of municipalities.
At Monday’s hearing, defendant Harun Tuzcu told the court he worked as a driver for the Beşiktaş Municipality but mostly carried out services for Akpolat’s family rather than working inside the municipality.
Tuzcu alleged that when he was first detained, lawyers of Akpolat intimidated him to keep silent. He later said his subsequent statements were given of his own free will and without pressure.
Over four weeks of proceedings, the court completed the defenses of 162 detained and non-detained defendants. An interim ruling is expected at this week’s hearing.
According to the indictment, the alleged criminal organization led by Aktaş bribed mayors, including Akpolat, Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara, Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin, Ceyhan Mayor Kadir Aydar, Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar, who has since been released, and Adıyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere, who was released and reinstated, to organize tender processes.
Türkiye’s defense industry has introduced an armed unmanned surface vehicle designed to address evolving maritime security threats, as naval domains face increasingly complex risks alongside advances in military technology.
Developed by HAVELSAN, the SANCAR Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle (AUSV) is equipped with engagement capability, mine detection systems and autonomous mission functions. The platform is fully integrated with the ADVENT Combat Management System, also developed by HAVELSAN, making it the first and only Turkish AUSV capable of operating in complete coordination with the network-centric warfare system.
SANCAR is designed to operate both independently and as part of a swarm architecture, enabling coordinated missions with other autonomous vehicles.
The vessel is differentiated by its mine countermeasure capability and has been engineered to deploy from next-generation minehunter ships to conduct off-board operations, expanding operational flexibility in contested waters.
The AUSV can be controlled through a mobile land-based control station equipped with the ADVENT C4ISR mission system, allowing interoperability in line with NATO standards. Software enhancements compliant with NATO interoperability requirements enable integration with various naval platforms, facilitating mission transfers between ships and joint operations involving both manned and unmanned assets.
Designed to carry out a wide range of missions, including port and base protection, search and rescue, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, patrol, surface warfare and mine countermeasures, SANCAR aims to reduce risks to personnel while enhancing maritime situational awareness.
Officials say the system also holds export potential as demand grows for advanced unmanned naval solutions.
Moreover, the Turkish defense industry is diversifying its export successes in USVs this year through new contracts.
The most striking part is the export of payloads for unmanned surface vessels. Through experience gained from projects like MARLIN, SANCAR and ULAQ, Türkiye is opening up not just with platforms, but also with critical subsystems and payloads that constitute the “brains” and “operational power” of these vehicles.
A major portion of the economic and strategic value of a USV lies in its onboard sensors, communication and weapon systems. Türkiye’s ability to export these payloads directly to the Asia-Pacific region proves that these systems are globally competitive.
Most recently, the Turkish defense industry has achieved another significant milestone in naval aviation during the maritime phase of Steadfast Dart 2026, NATO’s largest and most comprehensive exercise of 2026. The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV, deployed aboard Türkiye’s largest warship and drone carrier TCG Anadolu, once again proved its capabilities with its short-runway autonomous takeoff ability and strike power.
Military personnel from participating countries gave high praise following the national UCAV’s successful engagement of maritime targets. After striking the targets with full precision, the Bayraktar TB3 safely landed back on the TCG Anadolu, successfully completing the mission.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye will continue to speak out for justice and defend what is right wherever needed, stressing that the nation’s strength is rooted in its history, conscience and the legacy of past struggles.
Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara, Erdoğan said Türkiye’s firm, sincere and principled stance in the face of global challenges is being recognized across the international community. At a time when the world is undergoing sharp geopolitical fractures, he noted, Türkiye aims to expand friendships rather than create new hostilities.
The president emphasized that Ankara is not interested in escalating disagreements or deepening disputes, but instead seeks constructive dialogue and new partnerships. He underlined that while Türkiye respects the sovereign rights of all nations, it also expects the same respect for its own rights and legal interests.
Blending diplomacy, humanitarian action and culture, Türkiye is positioning itself as a key global actor amid rising conflicts and uncertainty. Over the past decades, Türkiye has expanded its public diplomacy efforts beyond traditional communication, positioning a wide range of institutions and nonstate actors as key tools in shaping its international image. Türkiye has intensified its use of humanitarian diplomacy to position itself as a global peace broker, delivering not only humanitarian and development assistance but also acting on moral and ethical principles across the world during crises.
The president also stressed that Türkiye, together with relatives of the fallen soldiers, strongly supports the ongoing effort to permanently end PKK terrorism as part of the “terror-free Türkiye” initiative. Despite those who seek to exploit terrorism for political gain, Erdoğan said the process is moving forward steadily toward its goal. He added that the government is committed to staying within legal boundaries and respecting public sensitivities as it works to bring the process to a successful conclusion.
In its 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S., and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, infants and the elderly.
Türkiye has made progress in the disarmament of the terrorist group PKK after a parliamentary committee agreed upon the guidelines for Parliament in the terror-free Türkiye initiative earlier this week. Government officials say the initiative builds on years of counterterrorism operations that significantly weakened the PKK’s operational capacity inside Türkiye and across its borders.
Recently, officials have argued that Türkiye’s coup-era Constitution has become outdated and have called for a new, civilian charter, while experts stressed the need for a constitution that fully addresses the needs of the Turkish people, safeguards their rights and freedom, and ensures that state institutions serve the public.
“Debates over a new or civilian constitution continue to remain on the agenda in Türkiye, though the work is progressing slowly due to its complex nature. There is no doubt that the process will be challenging. If completed and a new constitution is drafted and adopted, it would mark a first for the country. All previous constitutions of the Republic of Türkiye were prepared during extraordinary periods, and some, including the one currently in force, were drafted following military coups,” Yasin Şamlı, a lawyer and the president of the Istanbul No. 2 Bar Association, told Daily Sabah.
The government has been pushing to overhaul the Constitution for over a decade now, which was adopted in 1982 following a military coup that led to the detention of hundreds of thousands of people along with mass trials, torture and executions, which still represents a dark period in Turkish political history.
“Constitutions drafted during extraordinary periods or under military rule are widely regarded as lacking legitimacy,” Şamlı said, emphasizing that democratic systems require that state authority be exercised on behalf of the people and rooted in popular will.
He asserted that coup-era constitutions are illegitimate in several respects: first, because the initiative to draft a new charter does not stem from the electorate but from those who seize power; second, because such texts are prepared without broad consultation across all segments of society; and third, because referendums held under conditions of political pressure make it unclear whether voters are endorsing the constitution itself or simply seeking an end to military rule. Fourth, these constitutions lack legitimacy in substance, as their content is not grounded in the will of the people.
Over the years, Erdoğan and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) officials have repeatedly called for a new civilian constitution to replace it, describing the current one as “outdated.”
The AK Party has long campaigned for a new constitution, including a declaration announced during its 2023 election campaign. The “New Constitution for the New Century of Türkiye” declaration, which refers to the second century of the Republic of Türkiye, underlined the need for a new constitution. “Establishing a constitutional order based on human dignity for the prevalence of developments in the field of rights and freedoms is necessary,” the 2023 declaration said.
The declaration also said the constitution would preserve democratic gains acquired during the AK Party’s governance and would ensure a high-standard democracy, guarantees for freedoms and the supremacy of law.
Arguing that both the 1961 and 1982 Constitutions lack legitimacy, Şanlı emphasized, “Türkiye has effectively been governed for at least 66 years under constitutions not grounded in popular will.”
“It does not befit our nation for a coup-era constitution, one that suppresses the will of the people and restricts the rights and freedoms it is meant to protect, to remain in force,” he added.
Earlier this week, Deputy Parliament Speaker and former Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ said that although Parliament made radical changes and reforms to the 1982 Constitution, this did not remove the existence of the Constitution, and on the contrary, those changes only fueled the need for a wholly new constitution. He underlined that developments in Türkiye and the world, and political shifts, took this need to the next level. “History forces us to draft a new constitution,” he stressed.
According to Şamlı, the political will driving the drafting of a new constitution in Türkiye would be decisive, but public ownership of the process would be even more critical. Citizens should demand a constitution that guarantees their rights and freedoms and ensures state institutions serve the public, while actively monitoring their legislative passage.
He continued, “If such a collective will is demonstrated, it would mark the first time in the country’s history that a constitution is shaped by the people through their elected representatives rather than by military intervention, giving the process historic importance.”
The 11-member AK Party Constitutional Commission, chaired by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, has held around 20 meetings so far as part of efforts to lay the groundwork for a new civilian constitution. The commission last convened on Dec. 29.
The commission plans to engage in broad consultations with lawmakers, academics, civil society representatives and other segments of society. Existing constitutional studies, accumulated experience and previously expressed ideas will be taken into account, and contributions from experts in various fields may be sought when needed.
Moreover, Ferhat Küçük, a lawyer and a Ph.D. holder in constitutional law, emphasized that with the exception of the 1921 Constitution, previous constitution provisions significantly curtailed individual fundamental rights and freedoms, as those were heavily shaped by the ruling regimes of their time.
“Including the system of government, the model of judicial independence, the framework for limiting fundamental rights, the relationship between local administrations and the central government, and the definition of citizenship and identity became particularly problematic due to the legacy of military rule,” he asserted.
In this regard, Küçük said, drafting a civilian constitution would inevitably open the way for far-reaching reforms in these five areas.
Most recently, the AK Party’s deputy chair in charge of political and legal affairs and the party’s Constitutional Commission member, Hayati Yazıcı, stated that the commission is evaluating what provisions should be included in a new constitution, which current articles may no longer be necessary, and how fundamental rights and freedoms should be framed. Once the work is completed, the commission will submit an executive summary to Erdoğan, who also serves as AK Party’s chairperson, before moving to a broader consultation phase.
He remarked that drafting a constitution is the right of the nation. “The constitution is made by the people, but up to now the people have never been able to exercise this right,” he said, referring to the 1961 and 1982 Constitutions.
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