Turkey’s Erdogan Proposes Constitution Rewrite Before 2028 \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the appointment of a legal team to begin drafting a new Turkish constitution. While Erdogan claims the effort is about modernizing the post-coup charter, critics argue it could pave the way for him to remain in power beyond 2028. Opposition figures warn of democratic backsliding.
Quick Looks
- Erdogan assigns 10 legal experts to draft new constitution.
- Critics fear move is aimed at extending his presidency.
- Current constitution limits Erdogan from running again in 2028.
- Turkey’s existing charter was written after 1980 military coup.
- Erdogan calls for a “civilian and libertarian” document.
- Legal change could bypass presidential term limits.
- Ruling party lacks parliamentary majority for constitutional overhaul.
- Strategy may involve seeking support from pro-Kurdish party.
- Opposition leader Imamoglu recently jailed on corruption charges.
- Human rights groups say Turkey is sliding into authoritarianism.
Deep Look
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took a decisive step on Tuesday toward what could be the most significant political restructuring of Turkey in decades — initiating efforts to draft a new national constitution. The announcement, delivered during a speech to members of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), reignited fears among critics that Erdogan is seeking to dismantle existing term limits and secure his hold on power beyond 2028, when his current presidential term expires.
Erdogan revealed that he has commissioned a team of 10 legal experts to begin the drafting process. “As of yesterday, I have assigned 10 legal experts to begin their work, and with this effort, we will proceed with the preparations for the new constitution,” he told party officials, adding that the new document should reflect a “civilian and libertarian” framework — a contrast, he argued, to the existing constitution drafted in the wake of Turkey’s 1980 military coup.
Though Turkey’s constitution has undergone multiple amendments over the years, Erdogan claims the military legacy embedded in the original document continues to overshadow its democratic potential. “For 23 years, we have repeatedly demonstrated our sincere intention to crown our democracy with a new civilian and libertarian constitution,” Erdogan said.
But while the president portrays the initiative as a long-overdue modernization effort, many political analysts and opposition figures view it with skepticism. Under the current legal framework, Erdogan is not eligible to run for re-election in 2028 unless early elections are triggered — a loophole that could be closed or expanded by a constitutional rewrite.
Critics see the new constitution push as a carefully calculated strategy to legally circumvent presidential term limits. Erdogan, who served as prime minister from 2003 to 2014 before becoming president, has consolidated power steadily over two decades. A 2017 constitutional referendum already expanded his presidential powers and abolished the prime minister’s office, centralizing executive authority.
Despite denying that his motive is personal, Erdogan’s intentions remain hotly debated. “We want the new constitution not for ourselves, but our country,” he said last week. Yet his increasing authoritarianism and frequent targeting of political opponents have cast doubt on those claims.
Adding to the controversy is the ruling party’s lack of the two-thirds parliamentary majority required to enact a new constitution without support from other parties. Some political observers believe Erdogan’s government may be seeking to gain favor with the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) — or its successor — by softening its position on the long-running conflict with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a militant group that has fought the Turkish state for autonomy and rights.
This political maneuvering comes amid escalating concerns over democratic erosion. The recent arrest and imprisonment of Istanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, on corruption charges is widely viewed as politically motivated. Imamoglu, one of Erdogan’s most formidable opponents, had been seen as a potential presidential challenger in 2028. His detention triggered widespread demonstrations, with critics accusing Erdogan’s government of undermining judicial independence and weaponizing the courts to eliminate rivals.
While the government maintains that Turkey’s judiciary is impartial, watchdog groups and human rights organizations argue otherwise. They cite a growing trend of politicized prosecutions, media crackdowns, and the erosion of civil liberties as signs of creeping authoritarianism under Erdogan’s rule.
The constitutional overhaul effort could also deepen polarization in Turkish politics. While Erdogan maintains significant support among conservative and nationalist voters, the opposition — including secular, pro-democracy, and Kurdish blocs — remains deeply distrustful of his long-term intentions.
Turkey’s previous attempt to rewrite its constitution collapsed in 2011 amid political gridlock. Whether this latest initiative will meet the same fate remains uncertain. Erdogan’s AKP and its ultra-nationalist allies in the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) currently lack the supermajority needed to push through a constitutional change unilaterally, setting the stage for contentious negotiations — or perhaps, as some speculate, an eventual public referendum.
If Erdogan manages to secure enough political backing or turns to a national vote, it could pave the way for a new chapter in Turkish governance — one that many fear may cement one-man rule under the guise of reform.
For now, the debate over Erdogan’s constitutional ambitions highlights the broader struggle for Turkey’s democratic future. With opposition leaders sidelined, legal institutions under scrutiny, and a new charter on the horizon, the balance between reform and authoritarian consolidation hangs in the balance.
Turkey’s Erdogan Proposes Turkey’s Erdogan Proposes
You must Register or Login to post a comment.