Turkey's President Erdogan calls for 'civilian constitution'

Leader's rule has been defined by concentration of power, embedded in amendments to the existing constitution

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes a speech on February 1, 2021.  AFP

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke of the need to draft a new and “civilian” constitution for Turkey.

During a televised speech following a Cabinet meeting on Monday, Mr Erdogan said that the country’s last two constitutions - enacted in 1961 and 1982 - were drafted following military coups, and contained indelible traces of what he called "military tutelage".

Mr Erdogan said a new constitution should involve civilian principles, but did not elaborate on that.

“Perhaps the time has come for Turkey to debate a new constitution,” Mr Erdogan said.

A new document "would have to be done in a transparent manner and the agreed upon text would have to be submitted to the will of the people", he said.

Mr Erdogan said that he would discuss the issue with his party’s nationalist allies.

“If we reach a common understanding … with our partners, we could take action for a new constitution in the period ahead,” he said.

In 2018, Turkey moved from a parliamentary system to an executive presidential system that concentrated most powers in the hands of the president.

The transition came following a referendum that amended several articles of the 1982 constitution.

Separately, Mr Erdogan also said Turkey was building a microsatellite launching facility that would soon begin sending Turkish and foreign satellites into orbit.

“God willing, at a not so distant date, we will be launching into space the satellites of our country and those of our friends from our own facility,” he said.