ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reaffirmed his commitment to drafting a new constitution, insisting the move is driven by national interest rather than a personal bid to extend his rule beyond constitutional limits.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Erdogan described the initiative as a “steadfast” and principled pursuit to “crown Turkish democracy with a new civilian constitution,” dismissing claims that he seeks to manipulate the process for another presidential term.
“Our determination to crown Turkish democracy with a new civilian constitution remains steadfast today as it was yesterday,” he said.
“Regardless of the circumstances, we have not deviated and will not deviate from this goal.”
Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey for 22 years, first as prime minister from 2003 and later as president from 2014, faces a constitutional barrier under Article 101, which restricts presidents to two terms.
His current term, set to end in 2028, should be his last under existing law.
The president argued that Turkey cannot fully realize its “Century Vision” under the current charter, which he criticized as being rooted in a “mentality that once justified executions.”
He called on political factions to act “in a spirit of consensus” and resolve the issue swiftly.
“The sooner we as a political institution can resolve this issue, the greater service we will render to our country and our democracy,” Erdogan added, emphasizing that his Justice and Development Party (AKP) seeks broad collaboration.
However, any constitutional reform would require significant parliamentary backing. Erdogan needs at least 360 votes out of the 600-member Grand National Assembly to call a national referendum, or 400 votes to amend the constitution outright without one.
His current coalition with the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) controls only 321 seats, far short of either threshold.
Although Article 116 of the constitution allows a third presidential bid if parliament calls early elections during a second term, the 2017 constitutional referendum that consolidated Erdogan’s powers maintained the two-term limit.
Political observers view the latest push as a calculated move to sustain Erdogan’s political legacy, with speculation that efforts to revive talks with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) could be aimed at securing Kurdish parliamentary support for a new constitutional framework, one that might ultimately pave the way for his continued leadership.
Analysts say the coming months will reveal whether Erdogan’s campaign for a “civilian constitution” is a genuine democratic reform or a strategic path to extend his two-decade rule.
