Political debate in Turkey has intensified following President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s call for the country to draft a new constitution. On Thursday, Erdogan emphasized the need for a liberal, democratic, and civil constitution, inviting the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), to participate in the process.
The Turkish president stressed that this change was not for his personal interest but for the benefit of Turkey. He also clarified that he does not intend to run for the presidency or govern the country again.
Opposition Firmly Rejects the Proposal
In contrast, CHP leader Özgür Özel once again closed the door on participation, stating: “You cannot negotiate with those who do not recognize the law; instead, they must be opposed.” This highlights the deep divide between the government and the opposition over the constitutional issue.
Bahçeli Supports Erdogan and Insists on His Continuity
Meanwhile, Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Erdogan’s main ally in the “People’s Alliance,” issued a statement on Friday emphasizing that the Turkish Republic and the Turkish nation are in urgent need of Erdogan’s leadership, describing him as the architect of the roadmap for the new century.
Bahçeli also pointed out that the underlying goal of the new constitution is to open the door for Erdogan to run for presidency again, as the current constitution limits the presidency to two terms only, a right Erdogan has already exhausted.
Legal Framework for Erdogan’s New Presidential Bid
For Erdogan to run again, several options exist: early elections with the approval of 360 parliamentarians, amending the constitution, or adopting a new constitution. Erdogan has recently insisted on the last option, especially after winning the presidential election in May 2023.
New Wave of Arrests in Istanbul amid Corruption Investigations
Amid this political debate, Turkish authorities conducted a fourth wave of arrests on Friday as part of ongoing investigations into alleged corruption in Istanbul’s municipality, where Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu is implicated.
The latest arrests included 49 individuals, among them Imamoglu’s private secretary, his head of security, and the chairpersons of two municipal companies’ boards. This follows an earlier wave on Tuesday that saw 20 other municipal employees detained, including the head of the communications office, with 13 of them placed in pretrial detention.
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