Erdogan appointed ten lawyers to draft Turkey’s new Constitution

Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced today, May 27, the appointment of ten lawyers tasked with drafting a proposal for Turkey‘s new constitution.

Speaking to the leaders of the AKP party’s county committees on the 65th anniversary of the 1960 military coup, which resulted in the execution of then-Prime Minister Adnan Menderes and several ministers, Erdogan stated, “As of yesterday, I have appointed ten of my legal colleagues. They will commence their work immediately. God willing, we will move forward with the new constitution.”

This year not only marks the 65th anniversary of the 1960 coup but also the 40th anniversary of General Kenan Evren’s 1980 coup. While Erdogan’s government has made numerous amendments since 2002 that have significantly altered the original constitution drafted by military leaders, he argues that it still reflects the influence of those coup generals. He insists that a new constitution is essential for establishing the framework for the “century of Turkey” he envisions. Critics claim Erdogan is trying to undermine the secular and national essence of the regime, asserting that this constitutional revision serves as a mere pretext for him to seek re-election in 2028.

“The 1982 Constitution, despite the numerous revisions that have diluted its original structure, still retains elements reminiscent of the coup era. The new constitution will liberate us from these remnants and the constraints imposed upon us,” Erdogan emphasized, asserting that “we will definitively free the nation from the shame of a Constitution affiliated with coup plotters.”