Erdoğan adviser says October 1 marks start of Turkey's new constitution process

Mehmet Uçum, chief presidential adviser and deputy chair of the Presidency’s Legal Policies Board, said Oct. 1—the day President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan opened the parliamentary session—signaled the start of work on a new Turkish constitution. He reported that a meeting with Justice Minister Akın Gürlek focused on the draft’s perspective, basis and principles, emphasizing that public needs must guide the process. Uçum recalled that calls for a civilian constitution date back to 1987 and that parties have long pledged reforms.

He indicated the intellectual groundwork will continue, targeting a draft after the 2028 elections during the 29th parliamentary term. Unlike amendments, a completely new charter would need a public referendum even with a large parliamentary majority. He highlighted the necessity of consensus on the future system of government—executive presidency, parliamentary, or semi-presidential—before drafting can proceed.