Main political events in Türkiye in the last week.
Main political events in Türkiye in the last week.
Despite the arrival of summer, Türkiye’s political agenda remained intense last week.
The most prominent topic was the ruling party’s efforts for a new constitution.
Process that the government’s started with the banner “terror-free Türkiye”, drawing international attention after PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan called on the organization to lay down arms, continues.
Last week was also the Eid al-Adha. Political figures shared their messages with the public.
The Commission for a new Constitution
The government has taken concrete steps toward replacing the 1980 Constitution, which has long been on the agenda and has been revised many times over the years.
AKP Central Executive Committee meeting chaired by President and Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, decided to form the “Constitution Commission” to work on a new constitution.
The commission, chaired by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, includes Deputy Chairs Efkan Ala and Mustafa Elitaş, Vice Chairpersons Hayati Yazıcı and Ali İhsan Yavuz, Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, Parliamentary Group Chair Abdullah Güler, Deputy Group Chairs Özlem Zengin, Muhammet Emin Akbaşoğlu, Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu, and MP Serap Yazıcı Özbudun.
Responding to questions about the commission, Cevdet Yılmaz stated:
“The Constitution Commission will not function behind closed doors but will work through broad consultation. It will engage with MPs, academics, civil society representatives, and diverse sectors of society to benefit from existing knowledge and ideas. The commission will oversee the process at political and legal levels. We are also planning to hold workshops. Whichever method proves most effective, we’ll use it. There are no limits on that.”
“This commission brings together the leadership of the party, parliament, and government. The process will be led by our President. Of course, this doesn’t mean other stakeholders won’t contribute to the process. This is not a process that any single political party can manage alone, all parties share the responsibility.”
The other party of the coalition government, Nationalist Movement Party’s (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli also expressed support to the process:
“The coup-era constitution must come to an end. A new constitution grounded in the national will should be drafted with contributions from all political parties in Parliament. In addition, the Political Parties Law, the electoral system and internal regulations of Parliament must be reviewed and updated.”
President Erdoğan’s Chief Legal Advisor Mehmet Uçum called on the opposition CHP to support the process. In a post on X, he wrote:
“Now is not the time to stand against law and state. Now is the time to support terror-free Türkiye and to deliver, for the first time in our history, a new constitution created entirely by the will of the people and their legitimate representatives. The CHP should fulfill its historic responsibility in both terror-free Türkiye and the constitution-making process.”
The CHP, however, has repeatedly declared it will not participate in efforts for a new constitution led by the AKP.
CHP Deputy Chair Gül Çiftci recently said:
“Our party’s stance, ‘No new constitution with those who don’t respect the current one’, is not just political, but a principled position. Today, those pushing for a new constitution are openly violating the existing one’s core principles, including separation of powers, judicial independence, and fundamental rights. Under these conditions, calls for a new constitution is not a path to democracy but to institutionalization of authoritarianism.
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Since the adoption of the Presidential Government System, the constitution has effectively been suspended. The judiciary is under executive control; Parliament has been rendered ineffective; fundamental rights are arbitrarily restricted. In a system where constitutional court decisions are ignored, and the executive power is fully personalized, talking about a new constitution is not sincere. It’s a strategy for political survival.”
The PKK-affiliated DEM Party, which is cooperating with the AKP in the ongoing initiative, had expressed support for the idea of a new constitution. DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan had previously stated:
“For decades, we have called for a new constitution that guarantees equal rights, legal protections, and inclusive citizenship. Denying that would be to ignore a central reason for our struggle.”
CHP’s former MP and constitutional scholar Birgül Ayman Güler commented on X:
“They have amended the constitution 20 times in 40 years and still call it a ‘coup constitution’. After making all these changes, they now say a new one is ‘urgently’ needed. If 19 revisions were made up to 2017, what changed after that to make a new constitution so urgent?”
The “terror-free Türkiye” process continues
Parallel to the new constitution agenda, the “terror-free Türkiye” process continues.
The process had begun after Abdullah Öcalan, leader of the PKK terrorist organization, called for disarmament and the dissolution of the organization.
President Erdoğan made a new statement on the process:
“The progress we have made in the terror-free Türkiye process proves our country’s ability to produce its own national solutions. Inshallah, will complete this process, which will strengthen the eternal brotherhood of our 86 million citizens, without allowing any setbacks.”
AKP Diyarbakır MP Mehmet Galip Ensarioğlu also commented on the process:
“After concrete progress is made, certain legal reforms may become necessary to support this process, provided they are sensitive to public concerns. This is a transparent effort. We know there are bad-faith attempts, both within Türkiye and inside the organization. They are trying to sabotage it. But people no longer wants violence, they want democratic and political solutions.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, following a meeting with Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş and AKP officials, also addressed the issue:
“We give great importance to both a terror-free and democratic Türkiye. For years, we’ve consistently called for a parliamentary commission to seek broad social consensus on this matter. Now that such a commission is being discussed. We consider it very important. We have shared our party’s views with the Speaker and will continue to contribute when consulted. Parliament should play a central role. Without Parliament’s involvement, this process can’t be successful. Social consensus should include victims of terrorism, veterans, and martyrs’ families.”
Meanwhile, reports have surfaced of internal debates within the PKK over the process. One of the organization’s leaders, Duran Kalkan, recently stated:
“Some are asking why we’re laying down arms after all this struggle. But how long can people go on like this? Öcalan’s call marks the beginning of a new phase.”
Nusret Senem from the Vatan Party’s Central Committee interpreted Kalkan’s remarks as follows:
“This shows a division within the PKK. Kalkan appears to be aligned with Öcalan’s position. They reject being tools of imperialist countries and Israel. The other faction wants to continue armed struggle and rely on imperialism’s support. This is a serious ideological rift within the organization”.
There are also criticisms towards the process. Veteran journalist Fikret Bila described the process as a part of the US and Israel-backed Greater Middle East Project:
“We cannot view the process independently of the developments in Syria. The process is tied to the goals of the Greater Middle East Project. While the government talks about peace and unity, Öcalan and DEM envision a ‘democratic confederationalism’. (…) The process is under the control of the US and Israel. The US ambassador to Ankara, Tom Barrack, is also a special envoy on Syria. His attacks on the Lausanne Treaty are no coincidence. Nor that described he YPG-PYD as allies. The US’s demand is for Türkiye to recognize a Kurdish autonomous (or federal) region in Syria. The ‘terror-free Türkiye’ process is part of that plan. The US and Israel divided Iraq and Syria. Iran and Türkiye are next.”
Eid al-Adha messages from political leaders
Last week, the Eid al-Adha was celebrated across the country. Political leaders shared their messages.
President Erdoğan criticized CHP in his message:
“At a time when our eternal brotherhood and internal front are growing stronger, it saddens us that the main opposition party refuses to exchange greeting at the Eid al-Adha. Our hope is that they end this divisive stance and that all of Türkiye’s colors can come together. As we say on billboards across the country: Our name is Brotherhood, our surname is Türkiye.”
Erdoğan also addressed the developments in Syria:
“We welcome the new Syrian administration’s efforts to preserve national unity and territorial integrity. With the support of all brotherly nations in the region, we believe Syria will soon achieve lasting peace and regain its former glory.”
CHP’s leader Özgür Özel responded to criticisms in his statement:
“Holidays are special days of unity, worship, and compassion. But unfortunately, this year’s holiday feels bittersweet. Our economy was already struggling, and after the March 19 coup attempt, things have only worsened.
The once middle class is now impoverished, the poor face extreme poverty. Workers earning the minimum wage, now below average global standards, cannot afford holiday meals or basic needs. Unemployment has hit a 10-year high.
Meanwhile, the coup attempt against our nation’s will on March 19 was a dark stain on our democracy. But the people have not surrendered. Resistance continues. We will fight until the junta is dismantled and democracy is restored.
With our presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu and 11 mayors in prisons, and dozens of colleagues detained, there can be no celebration without justice or prosperity. That’s why we are not holding holiday visits with any political party. We will keep fighting to restore democracy, justice, and dignity to this nation, and only then will we truly celebrate our holidays.”
MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, visiting the grave of party founder Alparslan Türkeş, said:
“This holiday marks an important step toward terror-free Türkiye. The PKK’s dissolvement and disarmament, approved at its congress on May 12, is an important step. (…) All parties should follow Atatürk’s path. (…) A new constitution is needed. Türkiye needs peace, stability, and reason, not more unrest in the streets. After the holiday, we hope to begin work in Parliament on a framework for a new constitution that will prepare Türkiye for the future.”
Vatan Party leader Doğu Perinçek also shared a message:
“On the Eid, we embrace the beauty of solidarity, compassion, generosity, and forgiveness. Eid is the day we pass on our values of humanity and patriotism to future generations. There is no ‘I’ on the Eid, there is only ‘we’. The Eid means our brotherhood, equality, nation, national state and homeland.
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This year, we salute the Eid with the determination to end separatist terrorism, to stand against the threats of US imperialism and Israeli Zionism.
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May this Eid bring blessings to our entire nation and to all Muslim peoples, especially the people of Palestine!”