Kurtulmuş expands discussions on new constitution proposal

Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş has expanded his consultations to discuss the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) proposal for a new constitution.

On June 4, Kurtulmuş began meeting with leaders of parties that lack a parliamentary group, including the Free Cause Party (HÜDA PAR), the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and the New Welfare Party (YRP).

To establish a group in the Turkish parliament, a party must have at least 20 MPs.

The AKP's long-pending proposal for a new and "civilian" constitution lacks the necessary parliamentary majority. For the new constitution to progress to a referendum, the AKP needs support from at least 37 MPs from opposition parties.

The current charter has long been criticized by the AKP for its origins in the 1980 military coup.

Initial discussions have seen Kurtulmuş engage with main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel, Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) co-chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, İYİ (Good) Party's new head Müsavat Dervişoğlu and a delegate from the Felicity Party (SP).

Recently, Kurtulmuş concluded meetings with Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the AKP's ruling alliance partner Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and subsequently with AKP officials on May 16.

The parliament speaker said the preliminary visits have set the stage for substantive negotiations when the new legislative period begins in October.

Meanwhile, the CHP stresses the importance of "adhering to the existing constitution," citing concerns over the non-implementation of Constitutional Court decisions, particularly regarding ex-MP Can Atalay, whose parliamentary status was revoked despite top rulings.

Other parties, including the DEM Party...