News:

President Tayyip Erdogan, who came to Kırşehir for inaugurals, called for votes in a sufficient number to ensure the new constitution at the general elections on June 7. Erdogan said, "You will show the necessary attitude and display the strength necessary for a new constitution. You will lay the foundation of the New Turkey." [Source]

Comment:

There are lively times in politics with the oncoming elections in Turkey. Wrong or right have no meaning! If you are able to manage perceptions, than you get the majority of the votes. The AKP who came to rule in 2002, has always been the first party in 3 general, 3 local elections and 2 plebiscites. Every election was defined by a "main" theme, by which the society was polarized and the elections won through perception management. Of course also the incompetent opposition parties had a big role in this. The main theme in the elections this year will be "the New Constitution and the Presidency". However, this time, the theme was not put forward by the AKP's Chairman and Prime Minister Davutoglu. It is the first time, that the President - Recep Tayyip Erdogan - called the people to vote for the "new constitution and the presidential system". Public opinion polls show that the people are not very much interested in this subject. During the coming four months, President Erdogan will visit various provinces under the pretext of holding speeches of thanks, and put across the presidencial system. This way it is claimed to build the foundations of the "new constitution", "the presidential system" and the "new Turkey" depending on the results of the elections.

The presidential system is a matter discussed since the era of former president Turgut Ozal. Yet there has never been a serious effort on this before as it is today. This issue, which was made a current issue during former President Suleyman Demirel's times of political congestion, is on Turkey's agenda now. The oppositional parties CHP and MHP make statements repugnating the presidential system. Whereby HDP says it would accept the system if it is one like in America or a semi-presidential system like in France. But asserts that the presidential system presented by the AKP is a "one man" regime.

Throughout his political life, President Erdogan held many positions like chairman of youth sections, provincial chairman, mayor, prime minister and finally President. At the time of founding the AKP, when Abdullah Gül who became Prime Minister due to the political ban upon Erdogan, left his place to Erdogan after the ban was lifted again. After that day, the party completely took shape according to Erdogan. Together with becoming President, Erdogan gave the signal of leading the ministerial cabinet by saying he would "not become an ordinary President", and so he did. At the moment, it seems that Prime Minister Davutoglu is still only "minister", but Erdogan seems to be both, Prime Minister and President. Erdogan did this on purpose. Because he did not give place to a strong leader, but rather to someone who will always be in need for him and who will carry out every work for him. He even assigned the residence which was built for prime ministry for himself after becoming president. Therefore, everything in "New Turkey" is shaped according to Erdogan.

The government argues that the presidential system would not be a dictatorship, but rather the parliamentary system would be a dictatorship. It states that the duty of the parliament under the presidential system is to legislate and the president's duty is one of implementing the laws. The president is neither allowed to make laws, nor to introduce a bill. And the delegates elected to the parliament can not be ministers. The ministers are to be appointed by the president from outside the parliament.

In general, states who conducted a change in their system, had faced huge crises which were followed by another change in the system. It can be said however, that the change in the system in Turkey has been triggered by the corruption in the public institutions, the judicial problems and the developments in the Middle East. Erdogan, is reconditioning this secular democratic system, which became rotten in 90 years, by reinforcing it with columns. In fact, as many have stated, he is establishing the "second Republic". However, no matter how much the secular democratic system is being renewed, quintessentially it remains the same. Its basis is faulty, its method is faulty and it diametrically contradicts Islam. Man-made systems have not brought anything else than chaos and disorder for mankind. Today the Ummah is not in need of a polished and glossed worn-out regime, but instead it is in need of resuming the Islamic life, through which it will receive dignity, and which it will carry to mankind as a guide to the right path. And this is not possible through the presidential system, but solely through the re-establishment of the Khilafah "Caliphate" Rashidah upon the method of the Prophethood.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Osman Yeldiz