News

AKP spokesperson Çelik says democracy package needs time

Aug 28 2013
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet Daily News

The democracy package is progressing in line with the “spirit of time” and cannot be rushed, according to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesperson Hüseyin Çelik. 

“We will do whatever needs to be done for an advanced democracy. But we will do so by managing the public understanding. Not all can be done in a day. There is something called the spirit of time. We do what we have to in accordance with the spirit of time, and we continue to do so,” Çelik said. 

Turkey’s charter commission agrees on ‘republic’ clause, further consensus not found

Aug 26 2013
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet Daily News

The Constitution Conciliation Commission has agreed to keep unchanged the first article of the current Constitution, which defines the form of the state as a “republic,” though parties have been unable to reach a consensus over the second article, in which the characteristics of the republic are detailed. 

Could deputies elect the president?

Aug 12 2013
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet Daily News

The Justice and Development Party (AKP) government overcame the crisis of not being able to elect Abdullah Gül in Parliament in 2007 by changing the system.

After then-President Ahmet Necdet Sezer’s term ended, the AKP government led by PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ran Gül as a candidate. The Republican People’s Party (CHP), led by Deniz Baykal at the time, decided to boycott Parliament during first-round elections, while the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) voted against Gül.

Ergenekon verdict should have political impacts: PM's chief adviser Akdoğan

Aug 07 2013
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet Daily News

The process that started with the Ergenekon investigation will also have political impacts, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's chief political adviser, Yalçın Akdoğan, said Aug. 7, explaining his previous tweets stating that the trial was "the biggest settling of accounts in Turkish history."

"The [Ergenekon trial verdict] is important politically as well because our political [evolution] requires political cleanings," Akdoğan said in remarks to private broadcaster Kanal 24.

Turkey's new charter to have article on domestic violence

Aug 05 2013
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet Daily News

While the Parliamentary Constitution Conciliation Commission introduced constitutional assurances against domestic violence, it also concluded the article about political party memberships. 

In its Friday meeting, the Parliamentary Constitution Conciliation Commission introduced a constitutional guarantee against domestic violence under the article “The right to marry and form a family.” The clause “The state protects children and women against domestic violence and prevents girls from being married at an early age and by force” was added to the article. 

Government, MHP insist on keeping poll threshold clause

Aug 03 2013
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet Daily News

Turkey’s ruling party AKP and opposition party MHP want to keep an article on election threshold in new charter, while the other opposition parties suggests that the article should be changed

Members of Parliament’s Constitution Conciliation Commission have failed to agree on a new charter article regarding the election system in the country.

Efforts for Turkey's new charter gain speed

Jul 31 2013
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet Daily News

The panel tasked with drafting Turkey’s new charter returns from a break with a push toward consensus, reaching agreement on nine articles, meaning 57 items now have unanimous approval

Parliament’s Constitution Conciliation Commission has hit the ground running after a brief break, quickly reaching complete agreement on nine more articles in a single sitting, bringing to 57 the number of items that now have unanimous approval.

Istanbul mayor says new candidate decision up to ruling AKP

Jul 23 2013
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet Daily News

Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş told reporters July 24 that the ultimate decision on who would run for his position next term is up to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), while adding that he “is here.” 

“I am here, if God allows it… Of course this is politics. Our citizens and my party will be making that decision. I thank my party for giving me two consecutive terms,” Topbaş said during an iftar event hosting representatives of Istanbul’s local authorities. 

Jailed PKK leader requests discussions on 'normalization' phase, wants to hold press conference

Jul 22 2013
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet Daily News

The jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, has urged the government to move more quickly to the next phase of the Kurdish peace process and speed up discussions on reforms, while expressing his wish to organize a press briefing from his prison on İmrali island.

Main opposition proposes its road map for Kurdish issue

Jul 18 2013
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet Daily News

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has outlined its own steps for the resolution of the Kurdish issue, criticizing the government for its lack of hesitance on the peace process

Concrete steps should be taken by the government through legislative and judicial arrangements in order to prevent failure in the stalled peace process, a senior executive of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has said.

‘Multiple choice referendum’ for new charter

Jul 15 2013
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet Daily News

Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Çiçekannounced last week after meeting with political party leaders that the four-party Constitution Conciliation Commission will continue to work on writing a new Constitution. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who had earlier said his ruling party would go ahead with his own proposal if the commission fails to agree, offered to approve the 48 articles all parties have agreed on so far. Now I have information that goes beyond Erdoğan’s offer.

Opposition divided on Turkish PM’s new charter offer

Jul 12 2013
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet Daily News

PM Erdoğan’s call for the legislative passage of agreed-upon charter articles splits the opposition down the middle, with the CHP expressing wariness

The opposition front has delivered conflicted responses to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s call for immediately submitting to Parliament all 48 articles on which the Constitution Conciliation Commission has reached agreement.

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