Turkey needs new constitution focusing on parliamentary democracy

Turkey's main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said on Sunday that the country needs a constitution based on the principles of a parliamentary democracy.

"We need a new constitution that defines freedom, transparency, accountability and the rule of law as the basic principle, and which focuses on parliamentary democracy, which regulates the electoral system on the basis of the most all-inclusive representation," the Republican People's Party (CHP) leader said in an article he penned for Cumhuriyet.

He said constitutional changes following a 2017 referendum, which ushered in a presidential system of government, had done away with democratic checks and balances, and weakened parliament and the judiciary.

"We need a state understanding that is not imperious and oppressive, but a state that includes society in the decision making processes, makes efforts to ensure social justice, and takes the pride in giving account of its expenditures to the citizens," the CHP leader said.

The government's nepotistic policies have led to instability in the economy, the wasteful use of resources, unfair distribution of income and doomed Turkey to unproductiveness, he said.