Turkey's AK Party Deputy Hayati Yazıcı says new constitution will be decided by referendum

Hayati Yazıcı, deputy chairman of Turkey's AK Party, announced that preparations for a new civilian, democratic constitution are in their final stage. He said the process will begin once a parliamentary consensus is reached and called on all political parties to contribute to the draft. Yazıcı stressed that the constitution will be presented to the public for a referendum, stating, “The final decision will be made by the people.” He referenced the legacy of the 1961 and 1982 constitutions, describing them as products of coup leaders, and framed the new charter as essential for Turkey’s second centennial. The party’s constitutional commission has been working for about a year, and Yazıcı linked the reform to broader goals such as a “terror‑free Turkey” and a strong democratic vision for the future.