Erdoğan’s push for a new constitution: Speaker of parliament visits main opposition leader

Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş has initiated consultations with political parties on the drafting of a new constitution with a visit to the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel, in an initiative seen as part of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s broader push to draft a new governing document.

Kurtulmuş went to the headquarters of the CHP, marking the start of consultations on a possible new constitution.

During the visit, which lasted about 50 minutes, Kurtulmuş and CHP Chairman Özel discussed the procedural aspects of the constitutional reform without delving into the details of constitutional content.

Kurtulmuş emphasized the importance of establishing a consensus-based process.

“We have not yet talked about the content of the constitution. Today’s talks focused on the procedures,” Kurtulmuş said.

He expressed hope that a new constitution could come about through a consensus with more than 400 parliamentary votes, out of the legislature’s 600 seats.

In his response to Kurtulmuş’s remarks, Özel pointed to critical problems experienced by Turks such as poverty and unemployment and questioned the timing and necessity of a new constitution amid such pressing social needs.

“If people have such high expectations in terms of basic survival, how does a new constitution fit their needs?” Özel said.

He emphasized the importance of adhering to the existing constitution before creating a new one and pointed out current problems in adhering to the constitution.

The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) also expressed skepticism about the motives behind the push for a change in constitution.

DEM Party deputy group chairwoman Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit criticized the government’s approach, suggesting that the initiative could serve as a lifeline for the ruling party rather than a genuine attempt to improve democratic governance.

“If the discussion on a new constitution is conducted from a perspective that could revitalize the ruling party instead of address the real needs of society, we will not participate in the process,” Koçyiğit said.

She emphasized the need for a constitution that reflects the different needs and rights of the people and does not serve party political interests.

Kurtulmuş plans to continue his consultations with other party leaders, including those from the DEM Party, the Islamist opposition Felicity Party (SP) and possibly the nationalist opposition Good (İYİ) Party, depending on the political calendar.

The talks are part of a broader strategy by Erdoğan and his government to rejuvenate their political agenda after significant losses in local elections and amid ongoing economic challenges.

In the local elections, the CHP emerged as the leading party for the first time in 47 years, securing 37.7 percent of the vote, maintaining control of key cities and securing substantial gains in other regions, while Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), for the first time in 22 years, came in second, garnering only 35.4 percent of the vote.

Turkey currently has a constitution that was drafted in the aftermath of a military coup in 1980. The 1982 Constitution has undergone many amendments but is still criticized for being far from democratic and liberal.

Over the past several months, Erdoğan and his AKP officials have talked about the need for a new constitution for Turkey; however, critics say Erdoğan is far from allowing the people to enjoy even the freedoms granted by the current constitution. They argue that Erdoğan’s push for a new constitution could be aimed at diverting attention from more pressing socio-economic issues and consolidating power under the guise of reform.

The process is expected to drag on into the next parliamentary term. Kurtulmuş wants to reach preliminary procedural agreements by the end of May.