CHP presidential candidate İnce vows new constitution, new democracy
ANKARA
Muharrem İnce, the presidential nominee of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has vowed a new constitution reinstalling a strong parliamentary system guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law if elected in the June 24 snap election.
İnce unveiled his election manifesto on May 19, the 99th anniversary of the launch of the War of Independence by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey in Samsun, a Black Sea costal city from where Atatürk started a three-year war against occupying forces in 1919.
“The first step to be taken for the rule of law will be the removal of state of emergency rule. Necessary reforms and regulations will be made for the relevant state institutions, particularly the Constitutional Court, to fulfill their duty of carrying out impartial and democratic inspection. Competent and impartial judges will be able to inspect elected officials,” reads İnce’s manifesto.
The Judges’ and Prosecutors’ Board (HSK) will be re-composed and the justice minister and undersecretary of the Justice Ministry will not take place in the new composition of the board, it adds.
The manifesto stresses the importance of a new constitution that will re-institute a strong parliamentary system on the basis of an effective system of separation of powers.
“Our indispensable objective is to apply democracy with all its norms and institutions and without interruption. Some administrative powers currently in the hands of the central government will be handed to local administrations,” it states.
‘Fight against terror will continue’
İnce’s manifesto notes that Turkey is fighting against a number of terrorist organizations including the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ), the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). It stresses that these organizations pose a threat to Turkey’s democracy, national unity and security and the fight against them will “continue without hesitation.”
Five main pillars
The manifesto cited five main pillars on which İnce’s presidency will focus, with the objective of “healing the problems of the Turkish people and re-establishing the tarnished values of the Republic of Turkey.”
The first pillar, the Justice Pillar, will deal with the problems in the field of rule of law. The Democracy Pillar will be based on strengthening fundamental rights and freedoms, on societal peace, pluralism and free media. The Economy Pillar envisages the continued growth of the Turkish economy and fair distribution of resources. The Foreign Policy Pillar promises to adopt a policy based on introducing peace and security to Turkey. The Education Pillar focuses on boosting Turkey’s standards to the level of more developed countries.
‘Common values’
Meanwhile, İnce’s manifesto prioritizes reconciliation between different parts of Turkey’s polarized society.
“Brotherhood, peace, comfort and love will be our guiding values. We will win the presidency and we will get the majority at parliament. Then we will immediately launch works to repair the damage done so far,” it states.
