CHP zigzags on compromise offer to block reform package

The party's zigzags on the package have drawn the ire of analysts and observers, who criticized the CHP for working to hinder the government from changing the Constitution, a remnant of the 1980 coup period, through different tactics.

The government presented a 30-article reform package to Parliament last week. The CHP initially dismissed the constitutional reform package out of hand, calling it a government attempt to take over the judiciary. It later called on the AK Party to exclude the planned changes to party closure procedures and the structure of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) from the package in exchange for support from the CHP. The main opposition party has thus far changed its view on cooperation with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on the reform package five times. The ruling party is currently silent on the new CHP proposal.

According to Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Masum Türker, the CHP frequently changes tactics on compromise among political parties over constitutional changes in order to avoid being seen as a party that says “no” to reforms.

“Political parties that have avoided political dialogue have finally realized that their maneuvers do not yield results. Baykal has made many proposals on the reform package in order to not be seen as a party leader who is against constitutional amendments,” Türker told Today's Zaman.

Baykal announced on Tuesday that he would visit the AK Party at its headquarters in Ankara if his party decides to cooperate on the reform package.

In February, shortly after the AK Party announced its intention to change the Constitution and take the planned changes to a public vote, the CHP leader claimed that the existing Parliament is not entitled to make constitutional changes. Baykal’s reasoning was based on the fact that the Democratic Society Party (DTP), which was represented in Parliament by 20 deputies, was shut down by the Constitutional Court and the AK Party narrowly escaped the same fate. “What this Parliament needs to do is absolutely not amend the Constitution,” Baykal said.

The current Constitution was drafted without popular consent in the wake of the military coup of Sept. 12, 1980. The supreme law governing Turkey has been criticized for lacking the democratic nature and basic regard for rights and freedoms that this era requires.

The AK Party, however, challenged the CHP leader and started drafting its constitutional reform package. The ruling party said it would take the package to a referendum after it is passed in Parliament. Baykal immediately changed his tactic of opposition to the planned changes to the Constitution and said the referendum would mark the “end” of the AK Party.

“The public will perceive the referendum as a vote over whether the AK Party should leave power or not. Once the ruling party is defeated in the referendum, it will see it as a defeat in elections. It will be very difficult for it to remain in power,” Baykal said, and claimed that the reform package would not be supported by more than 35 percent of the public in a referendum.

The CHP leader’s next maneuver in efforts to block the passage of the reform package in Parliament was aimed at the president. In early April, Baykal called on President Abdullah Gül not to approve three articles on judicial reform included in the constitutional amendment package and to return them to Parliament. “This is what you should do if you want to serve as the president of all of Turkey,” he said, addressing Gül.

The three articles Baykal was referring to are the most controversial ones in the package, covering changes to the structure of the Constitutional Court and the HSYK and making party closures more difficult.

The CHP leader also said the Constitutional Court would nullify the articles once they are passed in Parliament.

Then came a swift change in Baykal’s position on the package. He called on the government last week to exclude the three articles from the reform package and include them in a new package. He said his party would lend support to the government’s efforts to change the Constitution if the AK Party listened to the CHP’s call.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave the green light for cooperation with the main opposition party on the constitutional reform package on Sunday. He said his party would evaluate the CHP proposal to see if it complies with the law.

In the wake of a warm welcome of his proposal by the ruling party, Baykal changed his mind for a fifth time and said the AK Party should suspend discussing the three articles on judicial reform until the next parliamentary elections. The next parliamentary elections are slated for July 2011. The proposal is likely to make compromise among political parties on the reform package even more difficult.

On Monday, AK Party parliamentary group deputy chairman Suat Kılıç said the CHP’s proposal was not a “reassuring political approach,” adding that the main opposition party is unwilling to see cooperation among political parties on the constitutional reform package.

“With this proposal, Baykal has shown that he has closed his party’s doors for cooperation. He should not have expanded his proposal with a new one. I wish he had reiterated his previous proposal,” Kılıç noted.