Erdoğan commits to drafting new civilian constitution after Eid al-Adha holiday

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan outlined his government’s renewed commitment to delivering a long-promised civilian constitution, signalling that preparations will accelerate after the upcoming Eid holiday.

Speaking to journalists upon his return from Azerbaijan, where he visited the Lachin region to mark the country’s Independence Day, Erdoğan said the groundwork for constitutional reform has already been laid and that a team of legal experts is ready to begin work, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

“A new and civilian constitution is a promise we made to the nation, and we intend to keep it,” Erdoğan said. “Unlike others who speak of reform but take no action, we’ve completed our preparations and will move forward immediately after Eid.”

He announced that a group of 11 experts—including prominent constitutional scholar Professor Serap Yazıcı Özbudun—has been appointed to draft a new charter. The aim, he said, is to replace the current constitution, which dates back to the military era, with one that better reflects democratic values, protects rights and freedoms, and is written in clear and accessible language.

“The current constitution bears the marks of a different political era,” Erdoğan said. “Its language is outdated, and its structure no longer serves the needs of a modern, democratic Türkiye. We want to create a practical and inclusive constitution—one that strengthens democratic legitimacy and guides us into the ‘Century of Türkiye.’” 

While Erdoğan called for cross-party cooperation in the process, he was critical of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), accusing it of adopting an obstructionist approach.

“We are ready to work with any party that approaches this process in good faith,” he said. “Unfortunately, the CHP continues with its habitual resistance. This isn’t about partisan politics; this is about delivering on a national promise.”

Erdoğan emphasised that the constitution should be a product of broad consensus, not a unilateral political project. “A constitution is not a document for one party—it is a social contract for the entire nation,” he said. “We are acting with goodwill and calling on others to do the same.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev