Turkish Constitution's first 4 clauses safeguard 'nation's existence': Party chief

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - The first four articles of the Turkish Constitution, which are irrevocable and immutable, are the "lock and armor" of the country's existence, the head of a prominent political party said on Tuesday.

"The first four articles of the Constitution are the lock, armor, and adornment of our national existence. Acting in violation of this is a constitutional crime that demands the application of constitutional sanctions," Devlet Bahceli, the leader of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), told his party's parliamentary group in the capital Ankara.

The first three articles of Turkey's constitution lay out the basic principles of the country as a democratic, secular, and social republic governed by the rule of law, with Turkish as its official language and Ankara as its capital. The fourth article guarantees that the first three are irrevocable and unchangeable.

Bahceli pointed out that Turkey's parliament, known officially as the Grand National Assembly, is "the only authority where the national will is manifested."

"It is true," the Turkish parliament is the source of resolution for all issues in the country, Bahceli said.

"But, it cannot be the source of solutions for betrayal, it cannot be seen as the address for solutions of division (of the country), and, under this blessed roof, schemes out of political abusive concerns cannot be made for solutions to imaginary problems imposed by imperialism," he said.

Bahceli's remarks came after comments last month by Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) about the Kurdish issue in Turkey.

"We need a legitimate body to resolve the Kurdish issue," said Kilicdaroglu, pointing to the parliament as the venue to solve the Kurdish issue in the country.

The MHP leader denied that there was such a Kurdish issue in Turkey, arguing that it was the CHP that saw Kurdish people "as an issue."

"To discuss the so-called Kurdish issue means to discuss the nation. Discussing the nation is synonymous with opening the state to discussion," he added.​​​​​​​