Sept. 12 to be a day of celebration this year, Erdoğan says

He implied that the public would approve the amendments made to the 1982 Constitution -- drafted without popular consent in the wake of the military coup of 1980 -- which would lead to a festive environment in the country.

    The supreme law governing Turkey has been criticized for lacking the democratic nature and basic regard for rights and freedoms that this era requires. Speaking to reporters before departing for a visit to Greece at Esenboğa International Airport yesterday, Erdoğan commented on a Supreme Election Board (YSK) ruling made on Thursday, which said the referendum on the reform package would be held 120 days after its publication in the Official Gazette, contrary to government expectations of 60. The board said the referendum would be held on Sept. 12, which is both the 30th anniversary of the Sept. 12 coup and one day after the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday.

When asked whether he has any concerns about a low turnout at the polls because people will be in other provinces for the Eid al-Fitr holiday, Erdoğan replied: “Our citizens will have double celebrations. We will have double celebrations. I believe that our citizens are very sensitive about national issues. During the [Muslim holy month] Ramadan, we will embrace our public and mingle with them by going from one province to another. We will be together with the public during fast-breaking dinners. We will discuss the referendum until the time of sahur [the meal Muslims eat early in the morning before fasting during Ramadan].”

Erdoğan also ruled out the possibility of early parliamentary elections. Media reports had claimed that the government could decide to hold the referendum and early elections, rather than waiting until July 2011, together in line with the opposition’s demands if the YSK decides to schedule the referendum 120 days after the publication of the package. “We have to forget the expectation of an early election. We will continue to hold elections on the exact date scheduled, just like developed countries,” he said.

When asked about the Republican People’s Party (CHP) challenging the reforms at the Constitutional Court demanding their annulment on Friday, Erdoğan said the CHP’s move was not surprising because the party had already announced that it would take the reforms to the top court even when the reform package was only a draft. “We are familiar with this attitude of the CHP, and the CHP has made the Constitutional Court the main opposition court. The CHP takes almost all legislation to the court. I think the Constitutional Court has not been kept this busy by the main opposition party in its history,” Erdoğan said.

In 2008, the CHP challenged a government reform that would have lifted a ban on Muslim headscarves at universities, leading to its annulment. The Constitutional Court was heavily criticized for violating its authority by canceling reforms that received record support from Parliament.

The prime minister also dwelled on CHP allegations of government involvement in a video scandal that revealed former CHP leader Deniz Baykal’s alleged affair with a CHP deputy. Baykal, who announced his resignation in the wake of the scandal early this week, accused the government of conspiring against him, claims that were strongly condemned and denied by the government. Dismissing the CHP’s allegations of government involvement in the scandal, Erdoğan called on Baykal to take legal action against the government by submitting to the court documents showing the government’s links with the scandal.

The prime minister, who has so far avoided commenting on the scandal, said he was deeply saddened by the efforts to denigrate moral and family values in Turkey in the wake of Baykal’s alleged sex tape. “The most important power that keeps this nation on its feet is our social ethics. There are some who consider this. There are some who play the victim. It is never possible for us to treat those who cheat on their spouses as victims. Such a thing would be the start of the erosion of moral values in society,” Erdoğan said. “The main opposition leader has yet to say he did not commit such an act. The other person involved in this incident has not said anything to this effect, either. But they are trying to involve us in this issue by force,” he added.

Erdoğan’s statements drew an immediate response from Baykal who accused Erdoğan of failing to cast light on the conspiracy against him but trying to benefit from it. He said Erdoğan was engaged in “gossip” and that even this will not help save him.