MHP has preconditions for new constitution

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli had recently hinted that his party would support a new constitution, calling on the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) to bring its own constitution proposal to Parliament. He, however, released an official statement on Wednesday emphasizing that his party will not support or contribute to the new constitution if the AK Party includes a presidential system. While Bahçeli on Saturday said: "The AK party should bring their own constitution proposal to Parliament. This [new constitution] is only possible through a referendum. So [the AK Party's] required 317 votes need [an additional 13] to reach the entire 330 voter threshold. In the case of a referendum, MHP [deputies] would contribute in accordance with their views and principles," in Wednesday's statement he indicated that his comments "were misread."

Bahçeli said that his comments were assessed and described in one's own ideology and political beliefs and that "the party's stance and principles are being purposely distorted and are being abused, which we do not approve of or believe is an innocent act." Bahçeli's statement said: "The MHP is trying to be separated through the new constitution." Commenting on holding a possible referendum on a new constitution in the case of not reaching an agreement, he said that the MHP will make its criticism and stand against the AK Party's demand for a presidential system. Some are taking Bahçeli's recent statement as contradictory, since in the first statement he said that "a new constitution is only possible through a referendum."

After the Republican People's Party (CHP) walked out of the Constitution Conciliation Committee, Parliament Speaker İsmail Kahraman sent a letter to the leaders of all four parties, urging them to cooperate in forming a new constitution. Responding to Kahraman's letter with a letter of his own, Bahçeli said that the committee should include the four parliamentary parties and that the CHP should be persuaded to return: "The MHP will continue constructive efforts and contributions on the Constitutional Conciliation Committee, which consists of four parties, and you must convince the CHP [to return]."