CHP names charter panel members, vows to stand against presidential system

With a strong pledge to stand against moves aimed at paving the way for a transition from Turkey's current parliamentary system to a presidential system, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has named three lawmakers to represent the party in a parliamentary commission to be tasked with drafting a new constitution, days after the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) did the same.

Late last week, Parliament Speaker ?smail Kahraman announced he had sent letters to the leaders of all four political parties represented in parliament for the formation of a commission in order to draft a new constitution.

"I will head the conciliation commission and the commission will determine its working principles itself. I think that a new constitution will be issued," Kahraman had said.

In a written response sent to Kahraman on Jan. 14, CHP leader Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu said Bal?kesir deputy Nam?k Havutça, Mu?la deputy Ömer Süha Aldan and Ayd?n deputy Bülent Tezcan, also a deputy chair of the party, had been chosen as the party's members in the commission.

"I want to present to your information that the CHP will definitely stand against centers that would use the process of constitution work, which our people have been waiting for with hope for a more democratic Turkey cleared from coup laws, to pave the way for a path proceeding to a dictatorship under the name of a presidential system," K?l?çdaro?lu also said.

MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli also underlined their aspirations to strengthen the current parliamentary system while naming his party's three members as Mersin deputy Oktay Öztürk, Afyonkarahisar deputy Mehmet Parsak and Bursa deputy Kadir Koçdemir in a letter sent to Kahraman late on Jan. 12,.

HDP rules out K?l?çdaro...