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Reform package to be presented to Parliament on Monday
Arınç toured several nongovernmental organizations yesterday in a bid to seek support for the 26-article reform package, which was made public on Monday. While Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Çiçek, Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin and AK Party group deputy chairman Bekir Bozdağ were in İstanbul yesterday for a meeting with the editors-in-chief of newspapers, Arınç continued government visits in Ankara.
Arınç’s first stop was the Turkish Public Workers’ Labor Union (Kamu-Sen), where he had a 30-minute meeting with Kamu-Sen President Bircan Akyıldız. Following their talks, Arınç said the meeting was important while noting that he will take the union’s criticism of the package into consideration. With regards to demands that the constitutional reform package be a consensus, Arınç said, “These visits actually constitute a search for dialogue and consensus.”
The deputy prime minister said if no consensus can be reached over the package in Parliament, the government may take the package to a referendum.
Bircan said he conveyed the union’s concerns and criticisms regarding the package.
Arınç paid his next visit to the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK), where he met with union leader Sami Evren.
KESK officials acknowledged that the 1982 Constitution is a coup constitution and that a holistic approach should be adopted to change the Constitution, Arınç said after the meeting.
“This Constitution is no longer adequate for Turkey. All segments of society feel the need for a more modern, democratic and civilian constitution,” he added. Arınç paid subsequent visits to the Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (TÜRK-İŞ), the Turkish Bar Association and the Turkish Notaries Association. After the meeting with TÜRK-İŞ, Arınç said the government would evaluate the proposals that will be made regarding the package during the weekend and present it to the Parliament Speaker’s Office on Monday.
“One hundred eighty-four deputies need to sign the package so that it can be presented to the Parliament Speaker’s Office. I don’t think there will be any problems in this regard,” he added.
Arınç also said the government has no plans to visit members of the high judiciary to seek support for the reform package while noting that the government was following with concern the statements of several high court judges regarding the reform package.
Some members of the higher judiciary voiced opposition to the reform package, which aims to restructure the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) and the Constitutional Court, accusing the government of trying to take the judiciary under its control.
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