Turkish president vows to introduce new civilian constitution

ANKARA

Following up on a pledge he made before being reelected this May, Türkiye's president on Tuesday promised to introduce a new civilian constitution for the country.

"We want to culminate the fierce struggle we have been waging in the field of the judiciary since 2002 with a civilian, libertarian, and encompassing constitution," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at an appointment ceremony of judges and public prosecutors in the capital Ankara.

With the discretion of parliament, Erdogan said one of the top priorities of this legislative term is to save Türkiye from its decades-old coup-era Constitution.

The current Turkish Constitution was introduced after a military coup in 1980. Erdogan has repeatedly pushed for a new constitution to be drafted under civilian rule.

Turning to the Fetullah Terror Organization (FETO), Erdogan said Türkiye's fight against that terror group will continue.

"I especially expect you to show the necessary sensitivity on this issue in your workplaces and in your professional life," Erdogan told the new judges and public prosecutors.

FETO and its US-based leader Fethullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, in which 252 people were killed and 2,734 wounded.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.