TURKPULSE No:51 FIRST
ROUND WON ON AMENDMENTS
TURKPULSE No:51 FIRST
ROUND WON ON AMENDMENTS
Turkish
Parliament is on the eve of a resounding
victory about amending more than 30 articles of the Constitution in a bid to
conform to EU rules. Only one of the 37 articles may be rejected by Parliament
this week. A few others may remain between 330 votes and 367, in which case it
is determined by the
nation with a referendum. The rejected article is not important in practice as
the existing wording of the rule is enough to satisfy the EU.
TURKPULSE
No:52
TURKISH
SOLDIERS TO CENTRAL ASIA –In
a bid to take civilisation there
The Turkish Government has received Parliament’s authorisation to send military forces abroad over the current war in Afghanistan. The decision is far more significant than sharing the American and British soldiers’ burden in the military operations ahead. It concerns taking an active role for Turkey in shaping the Islamic world in line with Ataturk’s wise path for democracy and secularism over 80 years ago. These efforts were already going on despite Washington’s initial Taliban policy. They will now gain momentum with far reaching consequences for the entire central Asia and beyond.
TURKPULSE
No:53
Parliament
is working hard to rectify its misguided step about increasing MPs salaries and
pension payments with a last minute addition to the parcel of 37 constitutional
amendments. President Sezer seems bent on punishing the Legislature and the
Executive by referring this unpopular move to the people’s vote, but in so
doing he is increasing his popularity at the expense of risking the violation of
his duties set out in Article 104 of the Constitution, “…
to ensure the regular and harmonious functioning of the organs of State.”
For the details of various alternatives considered by Parliament to prevent the conduct of a referendum within 120 days and their prospects, please see the following article.