Baykal warns his party against AKP politics

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

“We should not get trapped by the AKP. Let’s protect our line and make a proposal in correlation with the country’s realities,” former head of the CHP, Deniz Baykal says. AA photo

Deniz Baykal, former head of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has urged his party not to fall into the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) “trap” over the new charter.

Baykal’s warning came on Thursday at a meeting of 20 lawmakers that had been initiated by CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to address the party’s approach to the Constitution Conciliation Commission’s ongoing work.

New charter

The meeting focused on the debate surrounding Article 51 of the new charter, which covers fundamental rights and freedoms, currently raging within Parliament’s Constitution Conciliation Commission. The CHP’s Constitutional Reconciliation Commission members Atilla Kart and Rıza Türmen informed the attendees about the commission’s work.

Nationalist deputies have refused many proposed constitutional definitions of citizenship, the Hürriyet Daily News learned. “We should not get trapped by the AKP. Let’s protect our line and make a proposal in correlation with the country’s realities. The AKP is not sincere in [drafting] the new constitution. It is not appropriate to expect a democratic constitution from the AKP,” Baykal said. He also asked the CHP to clearly identify its position on the use of mother tongues (native languages other than Turkish) in the public arena.

Kılıçdaroğlu also felt the need to make a firm statement at the meeting on the role the CHP is currently playing in the constitution-drafting process.

“There have been no promises made so far on constitutional citizenship and education in mother tongues. I do not consider it appropriate to criticize someone through the media. The amendment of the constitution is a serious process. The CHP’s contribution is very important. We do not expect a democratic constitution from the AKP, but the CHP will affect the process. The lines and principles of the CHP are clear. The CHP will not leave that table for sure,” Kılıçdaroğlu said. Kılıçdaroğlu also evaluated the ongoing problems in Syria with lawyer deputies, and said that Turkey is being driven toward a problematic area.

politics,