Turkish Vice President Dr. Cevdet Yılmaz has renewed calls for comprehensive constitutional reform aimed at reinforcing Turkey’s democracy, protecting civil liberties, and ensuring the nation is permanently safeguarded against future coup attempts.
Speaking during the Democracy and National Unity Day commemorations in Ankara, Yılmaz stressed the urgent need for a new, inclusive, and people-driven constitution that reflects the true will of the Turkish people, free from the influence of past military coups or foreign intervention.
“Turkey must finally liberate itself from constitutions shaped in the aftermath of coups,” Yılmaz declared. “What matters is that it is the people’s constitution, made by the nation itself.”
Yılmaz emphasized that the drafting of such a document must be achieved through national consensus, not the efforts of a single party or political alliance. The proposed constitution, he said, must clearly define the roles of key institutions to ensure effective governance, accountability, and the protection of rights.
“A stronger democracy built on a renewed constitutional framework will ensure that no one dares challenge the national will again,” he said.
Recalling the traumatic events of the July 15, 2016 coup attempt, when the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the Presidential Complex were bombed, Yılmaz described the attacks as deliberate assaults on the symbols of democratic governance.
“These institutions were targeted because they represent the national will. That was no accident,” he noted. “It was a direct assault on democracy.”
He also underlined the government’s continued resolve to eliminate terrorism and the influence of FETÖ, the group blamed for orchestrating the failed 2016 coup. According to Yılmaz, Turkey has significantly enhanced coordination among its judiciary, intelligence, military, and civil institutions, enabling swift and effective operations that once seemed impossible.
“Our institutions have regained their strength. They are fulfilling their true missions,” he said, while also applauding the country’s judicial system for holding coup plotters accountable in accordance with the rule of law.
“Justice means facing the consequences of one’s actions,” Yılmaz affirmed. “Turkey has ensured and will continue to ensure accountability both at home and abroad.”
Yılmaz paid emotional tribute to the 253 people who lost their lives and the thousands injured during the coup attempt. “May God have mercy on our martyrs. They will never be forgotten. They took charge of their destiny and stood up for their country,” he said.
He warned against collective amnesia and invoked the words of late Bosnian leader Alija Izetbegović: “Do not forget. If you forget, it will happen again.”
In closing, Yılmaz called on all segments of Turkish society to commit to unity, reflection, and vigilance as the country embarks on what he described as a defining era.
“This is the Century of Turkey,” he declared. “A century of peace, unity, and national cohesion. A century of justice, prosperity, and strength. We are determined to build it, and we are already on the path.”
Written By Rodney Mbua
