Erdogan seeks new constitution to extend his power beyond 2028

In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on a Tuesday that he has mobilized a team of 10 legal experts to draft a new constitution. This initiative raises concerns among critics that it may serve as a means for Erdogan to extend his political career beyond 2028, the year his current presidential term is scheduled to conclude. Erdogan has been in power since 2003, first as prime minister and then as president since 2014, advocating for changes to the constitution established post-military coup in 1980. He argues the current framework is outdated and continues to reflect military influence, despite numerous amendments over the years. The President's comments during a speech to his ruling party's local administrators indicated that this move is not merely for personal gain, as he stated, "we want the new constitution not for ourselves, but for our country." However, it is crucial to note that under Turkey's current constitution, Erdogan is barred from running for president again unless there are early elections or substantial reforms to the framework that governs eligibility. The concerns over Erdogan's intentions are exacerbated by his increasingly authoritarian governance style that has been evident in recent years. Analysts suggest that this push for a new constitution might also reflect a strategy to garner support from other political entities, particularly amidst efforts to conclude the long-standing conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). At present, Erdogan's ruling party and its nationalist allies lack sufficient parliamentary votes to pass a new constitution without additional support, which they might seek from pro-Kurdish parties. This constitutional effort has emerged in a politically charged atmosphere, particularly following the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent Istanbul mayor and an opposing political figure to Erdogan. Imamoglu’s arrest on allegations of corruption has further intensified scrutiny of Erdogan’s political maneuvers and his commitment to democratic principles in Turkey. Overall, the introduction of a new constitution marks a significant development in Erdogan's administration, potentially reshaping the political landscape in Turkey for years to come.