New constitution to overhaul system
The text of a new constitution drafted by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government has been completed, and it is already giving signs that it will drastically improve democracy in Turkey as it introduces many changes including allowing political parties below the election barrier representation in Parliament and shutting down the controversial university watchdog the Higher Education Council (YÖK).
The civil constitution was prepared by an independent commission headed by constitutional expert Professor Ergun Özbudun.
A host of changes are to be introduced when the constitution is adopted. Kurdish citizens lacking Turkish language skills will be guaranteed translators in the court system, for example. Closing political parties is going to be extremely difficult. The justice minister will be taken off the board of a body that decides the appointments and promotions of judges and prosecutors. The draft also has a special section listing children's rights. In other words, it is bound to make Turkey a better place to live once adopted.
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