Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş has said he expects debate on a new constitution to begin in parliament in October 2025.
Kurtulmuş shared the timeline during a live broadcast on Habertürk, saying that the next year will see comprehensive talks among political parties and the public to refine their proposals.
Kurtulmuş, who has been a staunch supporter of the policies of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, portrayed the current constitution, drafted after the 1980 military coup, as outdated and unrepresentative of Turkey’s democratic aspirations. However, critics argue that this push for a new constitution could be a move by Erdoğan’s government to further consolidate power under the guise of reform.
Kurtulmuş dismissed ongoing debates about amending the first four articles of the constitution—articles that define the secular and unitary character of the state—as unnecessary distractions. Yet, many view these discussions as part of a larger effort by the Erdoğan administration to shape Turkey’s political landscape to its advantage.
The announcement follows Erdoğan’s repeated calls for a new constitution, which he claims is necessary to replace what he describes as an “elite-imposed” charter. Detractors, however, see this as a tactic to divert attention from pressing socio-economic issues and to entrench Erdoğan’s authority further.
Kurtulmuş stated that over the next year the government would engage with political parties and society groups to craft a new constitution, with the goal of beginning formal debate in parliament by October 2025.