Business world boosts gov't morale on reform package

AK Party jurists, Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Çiçek, Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin and AK Party group deputy chairman Bekir Bozdağ continued their rounds yesterday to seek support for the government's 26-article reform package, which aims to bring Turkey's democracy and judiciary closer to the level of European standards.

The AK Party officials, who visited business organizations on Thursday, following their meetings with political parties earlier in the week, were satisfied with the feedback they received from their meetings.

Çiçek, who was pleased with the responses from the business world, said: “There is something that I can mention with pleasure. Whichever business organization we visited, its president took out a draft of constitutional amendment package from their drawer they had prepared before. This shows how crucial the issue is that we brought to Turkey's agenda and how different segments of society are in favor of these amendments.”

The Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) was the first stop for the AK Party officials yesterday where they met TUSKON President Rızanur Meral. Meral said TUSKON supports the government’s reform package and noted that Turkey was in need of a democratic and civilian constitution. “The current Constitution, which was prepared in line with a closed and protectionist economy, does not meet Turkey’s needs for today. It is important to pave the way for these constitutional amendments,” Meral said.

Turkey’s current Constitution was drafted after the 1980 military coup and is criticized by many for falling short of being democratic. Stressing that they had a useful meeting with TUSKON, Çiçek said the issue of a constitutional reform has become a demand from society at large and that the issue was no longer only of interest to intellectuals and academics. “Politics cannot ignore this. Public demand reveals the existence of a problem regarding the Constitution,” he added. The head of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, reiterated the union’s demand for a new constitution, speaking after the meeting with the AK Party officials.

“We want a new constitution that protects economic freedoms and is concerned about entrepreneurship,” he said. Indicating that a change in the Constitution has become a political, economic and social need, he said the state should not be an actor in the market but a regulator.

Hisarcıklıoğlu also praised the AK Party for paying a visit to the union to ask for their views on the reform package, describing the move as a good example of participatory democracy. Stressing that every problem can be resolved on the basis of democracy and the supremacy of law, he said there was a need to take steps for the coexistence of welfare and freedom instead of fomenting political polarization. The Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD) was another business organization that expressed support for the package, criticizing the opposition parties for their efforts to prevent constitutional amendments. At a news conference with AK Party officials after their meeting, MÜSAİD President Mehmet Nuri Görenoğlu said his organization supports all efforts towards the expansion of democratic rights and freedoms and that the institution finds the government’s package noteworthy.

“The expansion of rights and freedoms in Turkey is a basic need. In this regard, we support the government’s initiative. Many amendments in the package, particularly those related to the judiciary, have been anticipated for a long time,” he said. Görenoğlu also appealed to the opposition parties that were opposed to the amendments and said their duty was to make an unbiased contribution to the package.

İstanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO) Chairman Murat Yalçıntaş, who was also visited by AK Party officials yesterday, said an extensive constitutional reform has become mandatory for Turkey.

Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (TÜSİAD) Chairwoman Ümit Boyner said TÜSİAD supports the government in its efforts to expand fundamental rights and freedoms, adding, however, that there were areas of disagreement.

“I have full confidence in the Turkish Parliament’s ability to successfully realize this reform for the benefit of Turkey, common sense and self-sacrifice,” Yalçıntaş said. Indicating that the need for a fast and fair judiciary has become crucial, Yalçıntaş said it was unacceptable for simple commercial cases to remain unsettled for years.

In this respect, he said it was very important for Turkey to have a democratic, well run, fast and fair judicial system so that the country can have a more democratic future. Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (TÜSİAD) Chairwoman Ümit Boyner said TÜSİAD supports the government in its efforts to expand fundamental rights and freedoms, adding, however, that there were areas of disagreement.

Speaking after a meeting with AK Party officials, Boyner said TÜSİAD has studied the making of a new constitution for years and sees a pluralistic and individual-based constitution inevitable. “We share the same views with the government with regard to fundamental rights and freedoms; however, we disagree regarding the separation of powers,” she said.

Çiçek said the meeting with TÜSİAD was a useful one and added: “TÜSİAD has studied the prospect of a new constitution for years. It is prepared for such an issue and strongly supports Turkey’s EU membership process. We tried to explain to TÜSİAD our goals in pushing for these amendments.” Çiçek noted that the government will give the final shape to its reforms after meetings in Ankara and that the package will then be taken up by Parliament.