Skip to main content

Erdogan’s Constitutional Crisis

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s initiative to change Turkey’s constitution to support a presidential, rather than parliamentary, system, is encountering some opposition, writes Tulin Daloglu.
Turkey's Prime Minister and leader of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Tayyip Erdogan makes his address during his party congress in Ankara September 30, 2012. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR38LX3

How can something backed by consensus go so wrong? Look no further than to Turkey’s drafting of a new constitution. 

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking on Jan. 30 at the weekly meeting of his Justice and Development Party (AKP), told the assembled lawmakers that if the parliamentary commission tasked with drafting the constitution fails to finalize its work by the end of March, “the AK Party will bring its own work on this to the parliament's agenda.” He added, “If there is no compromise, we will submit the new constitution to a referendum.”

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.