Erdo?an calls for new constitution after stability heralded by elections

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has maintained that the Nov. 1 snap elections have ushered in four years of stability and called for reforms, including the making of a new constitution.

"The Nov. 1 elections have opened a four-year-long period of stability and confidence for Turkey. Let's turn this period into a period along which reforms are implemented in a way that would meet our country's and our nation's needs, with a new constitution being first, at the highest level," Erdo?an said on Nov. 10, at a ceremony in Ankara to commemorate Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding father of the Republic of Turkey, on the 77th anniversary of his death.

"Let's not hesitate discussing anything. It is our nation who will eventually make the decision as a requirement of the republic and democracy. Let's trust the nation. As politicians and rulers of this country, let's fulfill our duty and leave the final decision to our nation," Erdo?an said at the ceremony, which was also attended by Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu.

Last week, the presidential spokesperson for Erdo?an, who is the founding leader of the AKP, said after the election on Nov. 1 that an issue such as transitioning to the presidential system couldn't be decided without the nation's support and if a referendum were needed, then one would be held.

In the Nov. 1 snap election, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) led by Davuto?lu regained the parliamentary majority it lost on June 7, winning 317 of 550 seats - only 13 short of the number needed to call such a referendum. 

"While defending the republic, we can leave aside neither the Ottomans nor the Seljuks. Our power comes from here anyway. We are not a tribe state. Of course, we will claim our last state, our...