Turkish justice minister calls for new 'liberal' Constitution

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's justice minister on Wednesday called for a new liberal constitution in the country.

"It's clear that we need a constitution based on a liberal understanding that will protect the will of the people in the strongest way possible," Abdulhamit Gul told the members of the parliament's planning and budget committee.

The constitution that Turkey needs must be "based on the equal and fair application of law, pluralism, and respect for differences," Gul underlined, adding that drawing up such a draft was a "non-partisan duty" of the country's political parties.

The current Turkish Constitution was introduced after a military coup in 1980. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been pushing for a new constitution to be drafted under civilian rule.

Earlier this year, the president urged all political parties to take part in this process, a call backed by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), a member of the People's Alliance alongside the Justice and Development (AK) Party led by Erdogan.

Erdogan has repeatedly said AK Party plans to make public its draft for a new civilian constitution in early 2022.