Turkish parliament head lends weight to push for new constitution

ANKARA

The speaker of Turkey’s parliament on Thursday joined a growing chorus in support of a new constitution in the country.

“Turkey needs a new constitution. The Turkish Grand National Assembly has the power and ability to make this constitution,” Mustafa Sentop told reporters at the parliament building in the capital Ankara.

“A new constitution can be drawn up, both legally and politically, if there is a decision on the matter and if there is a serious and sincere will.”

He stressed that the Turkish parliament “is the place to solve problems.”

The current Turkish Constitution was made after a military coup in 1980, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been pushing for a new constitution to be drafted under civilian rule.

Earlier this year, Erdogan urged all political parties to be part of the process, a call backed by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), an ally of the Justice and Development (AK) Party in the People’s Alliance.

The president recently said the AK Party plans to make public its draft for a new civilian constitution in early 2022.

ANKARA

The speaker of Turkey’s parliament on Thursday joined a growing chorus in support of a new constitution in the country.

“A new constitution can be drawn up, both legally and politically, if there is a decision on the matter and if there is a serious and sincere will.”

He stressed that the Turkish parliament “is the place to solve problems.”

The current Turkish Constitution was made after a military coup in 1980, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been pushing for a new constitution to be drafted under civilian rule.

The president recently said the AK Party plans to make public its draft for a new civilian constitution in early 2022.