06.07.2025 10:30
President's Chief Advisor Mehmet Uçum made striking statements regarding the new constitution process. In a statement from his X account, Uçum said, "Implementing a new constitution without the approval of the people is tantamount to usurping the people's right to create a constitution. Therefore, any scenarios for creating a new constitution without a referendum have no democratic or legal value."
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President Erdoğan's chief advisor Mehmet Uçum added a new piece to his "Sunday Articles" series, which he publishes every Sunday. In his article titled "Efforts to Distort the New Constitution Agenda," Uçum stated that a referendum should be held for the new constitution.
"UNITARY STRUCTURE IS AN INDISPENSABLE PRINCIPLE" In a message shared from his X account, Uçum expressed regarding the new constitution and the new process named "Terror-Free Turkey" by the government, "The geographical integrity and political unity of Turkey, that is, the unitary structure, is an indispensable principle. It is absolutely impossible to open the unitary structure to discussion for political bargaining," he stated.
The full text of Uçum's article is as follows: "Today, we will address the attempts to harm the goal of a new constitution; the unfounded claims made regarding the new constitution in connection with the transition to a Terror-Free Turkey and the absurd view that the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) cannot make a new constitution.
1-) The biggest distortion is the lie that "the new constitution is a bargaining chip for the Terror-Free Turkey goal and is requested for the transition to a federal administration." The insistence on this black propaganda is an intellectual provocation against the Terror-Free Turkey goal.
As is known, the goal of a Terror-Free Turkey is a state policy that has been implemented unconditionally, without any conditions or negotiations. It is evident that it is proceeding in this manner. With the call from İmralı and the decision to dissolve, the parties involved in this goal did what was expected. The next dimension is the practical realization of the consequences of the dissolution decision. It seems that practical processes are also being put into action.
"A POINT OF NO RETURN HAS BEEN REACHED" It is becoming increasingly clear every day that a point of no return has been reached in the goal of a Terror-Free Turkey. Throughout this process, the issue of the new constitution has never been mentioned in connection with the Terror-Free Turkey goal as 'bargaining related.' In fact, there is no such bargaining in visible or factual reality. Therefore, there is nothing but unfounded claims. Of course, ending the terrorism that has targeted the brotherhood and unity of Turks and Kurds for forty years in every sense and in every medium will relieve the burdens on democratic politics. Putting an end to the actions, language, tutelage, and organization of terrorism everywhere and under all conditions will make democratic politics in Turkey much stronger.
"THE AIM IS TO UNDERMINE THE TERROR-FREE TURKEY GOAL" Most importantly, it is the opportunity for actors who have freed themselves from the tutelage of terrorism to engage in independent democratic politics. It is extremely important to appreciate and evaluate this opportunity correctly. Moreover, under the conditions where terrorism has ended, the conditions for implementing a new constitution will mature further. However, linking all of this to the claim of bargaining to abandon the unitary structure in the new constitution is a complete lie. The aim is to undermine the Terror-Free Turkey goal that will take Turkey to a new stage. However, as has been emphasized many times with determination, the foundation of the new constitution is the principles of the Republic and the first four articles, along with democratic accumulation. The geographical integrity and political unity of Turkey, that is, the unitary structure, is an indispensable principle. It is absolutely impossible to open the unitary structure to discussion for political bargaining.
"SCENARIOS FOR MAKING A CONSTITUTION WITHOUT A REFERENDUM HAVE NO VALUE" 2-) The claim that "the TBMM cannot make a new constitution" is a doctrinal retrogression. It is not possible to agree with this view, which is put forward according to the distinction between the original constituent power and the derivative (established) power. This view has no normative validity; it is a positive (pertaining to what is) assertion generally based on destructive examples such as coups and wars, and it is completely outdated. The approach of the ordinary period's constituent power has been developed due to the inadequacies and legitimacy issues of this view. Today, the distinction that is valid under ordinary conditions is between the original constituent will of the people and the representative constituent will of the assembly. Accordingly, the TBMM has been assigned and authorized by the people, who are the original constituent will. The will of the TBMM is not merely a power will established by the current constitution. The will of the TBMM is also a norm-transcending representation will derived from the social and political representation of the people, who are the original constituent power that existed before the current constitution and will continue to exist afterward. The authority to make a new constitution arises from the task given to the TBMM by the people as the original constituent will and is indisputable. Furthermore, it should be noted that since the right to make a new constitution belongs to the people, it is mandatory for the TBMM, in accordance with the task given by the people, to present the new constitution it will make to the approval of the people, regardless of the number of votes it accepts. Enacting a new constitution without the approval of the people would be an infringement on the people's right to make a constitution. Therefore, scenarios for making a constitution without a referendum have no democratic or legal value.
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