AKP to hold October workshop on new charter draft

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will convene a workshop in October as part of its efforts to draft a new constitution, deputy leader Hayati Yazıcı told state-run Anadolu Agency on Aug. 19.

The workshop will involve experts and academics specializing in law, public administration, political science and sociology, with the aim of gathering diverse opinions.

"We will turn [the issues discussed] into a report and present it to the authorized bodies of our party," Yazıcı said, adding that communication with other political parties will also be pursued.

"If a consensus is reached by sharing it with them, we want this process to progress and for Türkiye to achieve this."

Yazıcı said drafting a new constitution is "not a desire, but a necessity," citing inconsistencies and gaps in the current charter.

He revealed that a draft of the new constitution has been in the works since the COVID pandemic's onset, prepared by a committee led by lawyer Yavuz Atar, a chief adviser to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

"The work is ready; it is on the sidelines," Yazıcı said.

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

Its long-pending proposal for a "new and civilian" text lacks the necessary parliamentary majority to advance. To move the process to a referendum, the AKP requires support from over 30 MPs from opposition parties.

Since early May, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş has been holding discussions with representatives of opposition parties regarding the new constitutional proposal.

Initial talks included main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel, Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) co-chairs...