News & Comment

Presidency System Discussions

News:

National Movement Party President Devlet Bahçeli, made a statement about the presidency system discussions. Bahçeli said: "If AKP (Justice and Development Party) will continue to be persistent about the presidency system, they have to bring their Constitution draft to the parliament. It will either get over 367 votes and be the law or it will be presented to the people..."

Comment:

Bahçeli's, President of MHP, statement made a lot of noise in the media. When everyone was talking about the increasing terrorist attacks, the Euphrates Shield Operation and Mosul suddenly the political weather changed. The politicians and some groups suddenly began discussing this subject. And it looks like this subject will occupy screen time on the media for a considerable amount time.

Bahçeli, President of MHP, made another statement three days later. Bahçeli said: "Right now there is a parliamentary system in Turkey. But its operation breeds conflict and its stated that it needs some reforms. There are those who want to reform it by bringing up the presidency system." Bahçeli answered the, "Will there be a referendum in April?" question with "First it will have to be brought to the parliament then if in the parliament it gets (a vote) between 330 and 367, naturally, it will have to go to referendum. But sabotising such a good development would not be right..."

The parliamentary system that played a big role in the fall of the Ottomans is in its core an infamous English system. The English has preserved their influence on Turkey for a long time thanks to this system and has prevented the American supported governments from influencing the system. After the English supported secular officers' 15th July coup attempt was unsuccessful and after the present government made sure of their own safety, the government exploited the coup attempt by purging the nationalists from state institutions. President Erdoğan has tricked the nationalists with a political manoeuvre right after the coup attempt by looking like he made an agreement with the nationalists. That is why he also keeps bringing up the Yenikapı spirit and makes statements about it. That is also why, so that Erdoğan's so called spirit does not break, MHP's leader Bahçeli who is close to America has brought this subject up. In order to prevent any complaint against Erdoğan or the government from the people. By staying out of these discussions Erdoğan probably tries to look like he left this to the government. On the other hand the government has successfully purged the majority of the English with the Emergency State decrees. They especially continued their operations in the army and increasingly took down the secular English officers.

At this point such a question like this may arise: "If the government can do everything with the SoE laws, making decrees and with it purging the majority of the English while also Erdoğan is the president; what for would they need the presidency system?" This can be answered as follows. AKP could not become the government on its own in the 7th of June elections and America felt a danger there. In other words this unexpected result distressed the government and America. The government wants the presidency system as soon as possible to not experience the same thing. On the other hand the 15th of July coup attempt has distressed and made President Erdoğan and the government anxious. That is why both America and Erdoğan wants to secure the government to not experience such a difficulty again. Also the SoE period will end after a certain time. It does not look like it can continue much longer. After it America and Erdoğan needs the presidency system badly. Because like we always said if Turkey reforms to the presidency system and Erdoğan becomes the President then the English will receive a great blow. So President Erdoğan wants the presidency system in order to secure his chair and in order to strengthen America's influence in Turkey. If a reform comes in 2017 do not be surprised. And it looks like he will be successful too. Because right now America's and Erdoğan's hand is still strong. He makes any law he desires and he does not refer to anyone in doing so either. As opposed to this, the English hand is still weak and it does not look like they will take over the government in the considerable future.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir

Yılmaz ÇELİK