Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş said when he came together with AKP’s local organisation in Bursa’s Orhangazi district, “We are heading to a referendum. I wish for this process to bring good (khayr) to Turkey.” (Timetürk)

Comment:

These last years, especially these last months, the Presidency System became the most important topic. After MHP’s leader Devlet Bahçeli’s statement, AKP made its first real step by giving a constitution change proposal of 15 laws to MHP. The 15 law proposal contains edicts such as the title “Republicalpresident” (which was used since the establishment of the republic but was always translated as president) instead of “President”, the Council of Ministers will be appointed by the Republicalpresident, that the Republicalpresident would not have to cut his relations with his party, that he will be allowed to be the president of his party, abolition of the office of Prime Minister, increase of the MP’s to 600 and appointments to the cabinet outside the parliament… MHP and AKP commissions work on the text right now, they will probably make some changes and it will take its last form.

AKP looks determined in changing the constitution this time around and they give signals that they will take every step necessary. After they took over the government they organised operations on the English supported PKK and its political extension HDP also on the Cumhuriyet (the Republic) newspaper writers who were always a bother on the subject of constitution and presidency. Alongside these precautions AKP tries to keep the nationalists on its side by working together with MHP. They increased their power in the east and south east regions and for the first time “yes” votes are passing the “no” votes in the Presidency referendum surveys. In the coming days, they will probably try to increase the support votes by letting the matter discussed.

Prime Minister’s statements that there will be no elections until 2019, Deputy Prime Minister’s statement that there will only be a referendum and that will happen in April, indicates to us that AKP and MHP plans to change the constitution in this coming spring albeit the name may not be Presidency. These not so extensive changes will most probably be in AKP’s agenda in the 2019 elections alongside the purge of “FETÖ” elements.

AKP’s hand is much stronger on the subject of changing the constitution compared to the past. Because HDP and PKK are struggling with their own problems, they have no strength left to oppose. MHP and its base is supporting, or will support AKP. And because the main opposition party’s (CHP) opposition has been ineffective it strengthens AKP’s hand.

Just like all the constitutions that were made until today the change that AKP is going to make will not be a fundamental change and will not solve the many problems present. Revelation should be the source of the constitution. Man-made constitutions will never solve people’s problems and will never bring happiness to them.

Musa Bayoğlu