With Turkey's opposition parties reacting positively to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's call for an appointed meeting to discuss matters that are considered top priority on the government's agenda, Davutoğlu is expected to address the establishment of a new constitution, constitutional bylaws and disputes in Parliament – including a potential crackdown on terror and foreign policy. As Davutoğlu plans to travel to Belgrade for an official visit with Serbia on Dec. 28-29, a meeting with the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is scheduled for Dec. 30, when the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) leaders are also scheduled to convene. The meeting with Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli is scheduled on Jan. 4. The new government, which has been described as reformist due to its efforts to enhance democracy in Turkey, prioritizes the establishment of a new constitution based solely on human dignity.After the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) group meeting in Parliament on Tuesday, Davutoğlu met with the party's group vice chairman to discuss the agenda of the upcoming period as well as the agenda of meetings that will be held with opposition party leaders. Since government priorities are based primarily on the new constitution, Davutoğlu will discuss the necessary amendments with opposition party leaders in an effort to establish a new Constitution that embraces the 78 million citizens of Turkey. The debate over possibly changing Turkey's governing system from a parliamentary system to a presidential one is expected to be addressed as well. Even though the AK Party has secured 317 of the 550 seats in Parliament, current constitutional regulations require that 367 seats must be secured by the party in order to enact a constitutional change in Parliament without a referendum. A referendum requires 330 seats to warrant a constitution change. Thus, the AK Party needs the support of at least one of the opposition parties to ensure a constitutional change.
In addition to a new constitution, Davutoğlu will also discuss current attitudes in Parliament; notably, the controversial remarks continually made by party deputies who provoke disputes in Parliament. While Davutoğlu has received a number of requests from various party deputies requesting that he address the foul language, insults and discomfort experienced by various deputies in Parliament as a result of the conflict, there have been multiple requests made by a number of party deputies that Davutoğlu should urge political leaders to make efforts to prevent such attitudes from reoccurring. The relentless terror attacks in the southeastern provinces of Turkey as well as the international terror activities of DAESH will also be topics of discussion during the meetings as Davutoğlu is also expected to address the current foreign policy. As the leader of a reformist government, Davutoğlu will discuss intended reforms to constitutional bylaws with political leaders.
According to MHP sources, Bahçeli is expected to support the new constitution but is likely to oppose any amendment that could be made to the first four articles of the current Constitution. Bahçeli will likely oppose the presidential system while underscoring that the current parliamentary system is the most beneficial for Turkey. The first four articles of the current Constitution are written as irrevocable and amendments to them cannot be suggested; whereas, the second and third articles include the defining characteristics of the Republic with regard to integrity, the official language, flag, national anthem and the capital of the state. Thus, while the four parties had previously reached an agreement on amendments to 60 articles of the Constitution, Davutoğlu is now expected to ask the other political parties to change at least 60 articles of the Constitution even if they do not support the AK Party's other suggestions.
