Erdogan pushes forward with a new draft constitution that addresses Turkey's political future

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that he has commissioned a group of ten legal experts to draft a new constitution for the Ottoman country. One that represents civilians and contemporary ambitions. He has argued that ties with Kenan Evren's 1980 military coup must be severed once and for all, and that the country's democratic and civil values must be represented. However, this has sparked intense debate, with critics and the opposition arguing that it may be a strategy to perpetuate himself in power and run for another re-election, which is impossible under current rules after his term ends in 2028, despite Erdogan's proclamation that he will not run for a third term. 

This comes amid the centenary of the Republic of Turkey and criticism highlighting the authoritarian tendencies that have grown during Erdogan's years in power. It also comes two months after the arrest and imprisonment on corruption charges of Erdogan's popular political rival, Istanbul mayor and possible presidential hopeful Ekrem Imamoglu, and the ensuing widespread demonstrations demanding Imamoglu's release. The arrest sparked debate about the possible political motivations behind the continued elimination of opponents, criticism of the impartiality of the authorities, and widespread alarm about a possible democratic setback in Turkey. 

Erdogan has remained firmly in power for two decades, from his time as prime minister to his rise to the presidency. In power, he has expanded his presidential powers and centralised executive power, hence the doubts about his claims and mistrust of his long-term intentions. 

Erdogan has responded to questions about the new constitution, which is far from being an initiative for his party and allies, but rather for the country as a whole. He also claims that the Turkish constitution enacted in 1982 is obsolete and that a renewal would serve as a tool to consolidate the Eurasian country's representation of modernity, as well as its legal framework. Thus, another reason behind this momentous project is that Erdogan claims that the amendments made are insufficient to destroy the military influence that the Constitution's wording has, although the first four articles will not be amended because they constitute the identity of the Republic and the Turkish people. 

This effort is also seen as an attempt to seek support from political parties, given how eroded they are after the last elections and that they are also necessary to enact a new Magna Carta. In particular, gaining support from a pro-Kurdish party, such as the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) or its successor, would soften his stance on the internal conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a militant group fighting for autonomy and rights for the Kurdish people, which recently announced its dissolution and disarmament after four decades of activity. This is a feature that supporters of reform believe makes the political climate ideal for embarking on this path, coupled with the apparent stability of the Syrian issue that was impacting the region.  

This measure is seen as an opportunity to move to a more stable political system and minimise ideological conflicts, although it will require coordination in the political debate away from partisan disputes. Indeed, the opposition has stated that it will only participate if a transparent and participatory environment is created. In addition, issues that they want to see enshrined in the new constitution have been added, such as women's rights and ethnic plurality, notably Kurdish identity.  

Undoubtedly, breaking with the military legacy, if it is a sincere attempt, could be a historic moment. Likewise, this national project could mean the most important political restructuring in the nation's history in decades or act as a means of deepening the political and civil polarisation of the Turkish state. Ultimately, the system defended by Erdogan could be strengthened, or the future of Turkish democracy could be further undermined. Scepticism about these events remains.