Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The seventh “Constitution Citizen Meeting”, organized under the secretariat of TEPAV on behalf of the Constitution Platform, formed by TOBB and many professional and civil society organizations, was held in Antalya.

The meeting which took place in Ramada Hotel was attended by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Speaker of the Parliament Cemil Çiçek, Parliament Constitution Negotiation Commission’s AKP, CHP, MHP and BDP members, Constitution Platform Members, local and national NGO representatives and randomly selected citizens.

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Antalya plays host to 11 million tourists each year and that 20,000 foreigners reside there; that these people come to Antalya for its beauty, understanding and a culture of coexistence.

Stating that Antalya shows how different cultures can live together, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they are here for that reason as the Constitution Platform and thanked those attending for setting aside their Sunday to take part in the meeting.

- “We come together as one heart under the new Constitution”

Recalling Mevlana’s, “Those who feel the same understand each other, not those who speak the same tongue,” saying Hisarcıklıoğlu went on, “We share the same feelings regarding the country’s future. Today, we leave our differences aside. We come together as one heart under the new Constitution.

We’ve been saying it for years: Turkey needs a new constitution. These garments no longer fit us. We cannot move freely. They prevent us from running. We need a change of attire.”

Stating that the seventh meeting is held in Antalya, the TOBB President said that the new Constitution has an owner, the people.

- The new garments will be tailored by the people

Stating that rights are not given but claimed, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Claim your rights. Demand them. If this is to happen, only the people can do it.

This is why that when we say new garments are needed, that the people will tailor them. The constitution should not be formed behind closed doors by experts but through the understanding of the people. The experts have always had their way until today and the citizens confirmed their decisions. This time, we’ll dictate the terms to the experts.”

Stating that the Citizens’ Meetings will put forth the shared feelings of Turkey and that for the first time in Turkey, participatory democracy will be made manifest, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We want Turkey to talk. We will see just how much we have in common once we talk.”

- Speak freely

Stating that the new constitution would be one that focuses on the individual; excludes all discrimination; strives to realize the ideal of equality in all fields of social life; enables individuals to benefit from rights and freedoms on a universal standard; is democratic and maintains the principles of secular state and rule of law, the TOBB President said that everyone should contribute to this process no matter what their political views are.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Speak freely no matter what your political or religious views may be. There are no limitations here. There is no alienation. State what kind of Turkey you want. State what kind of future you want. If you choose not to speak today then the responsibility lies with you.”

- Speaker of the Nation Assembly Çiçek

Speaker of the National Assembly Cemil Çiçek said, “The participation of the people is assured in the preparation of the new constitution.”

Stating that 4 of the 5 political parties in the National Assembly have reached an agreement regarding the new constitution, Çiçek said that these meetings are held in this regard.

Çiçek stated that the 4 political parties have agreed first and foremost that Turkey is in need of a new constitution and have agreed that the present National Assembly should be the one to craft the new constitution.

Stating also that the number of representatives from these 4 political parties in the commission are not determined by their presence in the Assembly but are all represented by 3 members, Çiçek also said that an agreement has been reached to have the Speaker also preside over the commission.

Çiçek stated that they plan to have completed the new constitution by the end of the year and said that they would be taking note of the views of the citizens until April 30th and transcribing these into bills of law after May 1st in order to be reviewed by the people once again.

- Other speakers

Making speeches in addition to Speaker Çiçek were MHP Vice President Tunca Toskay, National Assembly Constitution Commission Member and BDP Diyarbakır Representative Altan Tan, Antalya Mayor Ahmet Altınparmak, TÜRKONFED President Erdem Çenesiz, TÜRMOB President Nail Sanlı, Turkey Kamu-Sen President İsmail Koncuk, Memur-Sen President Ahmet Gündoğdu, Hak-İş President Mahmut Arslan and Türk-İş President Ergün Atalay.
​