There is a growing criticism in Turkey’s mainstream media about the secrecy in which the AKP is preparing the country’s new constitution. AKP commissioned six like-minded academicians – five of whom are not known – to prepare a new constitution. They prepared a draft that they presented to a commission of AKP members for their evaluation. Only fragments of information about the draft is being leaked to the media – as the only information the public, NGOs, legal professionals, associations, trade unions, and universities have access to.

Hurriyet columnist Tufan Turenc says that PM Erdogan will soon meet with the AKP commission to put the final touches to what is considered to become the AKP constitution, rather than the people’s constitution. Turenc wrote that the lack of access and transparency makes this process undemocratic – something that the supporters of this Islamist party should think twice about, before they call it “democratic”.

Columnist Mustafa Balbay of Cumhuriyet wrote that the constitution being prepared by AKP will open the way to a “party state” and will soon turn the Republic of Turkey into “Receplic of Turkey” [with reference to prime minister’s first name “Recep”].

Source: Hurriyet, September 5, 2007; Cumhuriyet, September 4 , 2007