Turkish PM Erdogan has charged the government with composing a draft of the country’s new constitution by the end of the first half of 2012. The task is not easy, taking all the disagreements between different parties and factions into account.
Today the Turkish parliament opens for the new legislative season. The ruling Progress and Development party will have to coordinate their efforts in working out a constitutional bill with the opposition, as after the summer elections Erdogan’s party lacks five seats needed to obtain an absolute majority in the Parliament.
According to experts, the creators of the new constitution will have to focus on the Kurdish ethnic minority problem, as well as on the problem of the political influence of the army.
Rumour has it that Erdogan wants to change the type of government from a Parliamentary Republic to a Presidential Republic, and the opposition is against it. Another important issue is inter-relations between civic and religious institutions.
The adoption of a new constitution is important not only for social peace and stability within the country, it is also one of the conditions of Turkey’s admission to the EU.
