HÜDA PAR’s Human Rights and Legal Affairs Presidency has called for the adoption of a new civilian and inclusive constitution, arguing that Türkiye cannot move forward while the legacy of the September 12, 1980 military coup remains embedded in the country’s constitutional framework.

In a statement marking the 46th anniversary of the military coup, the party said the 1982 Constitution, drafted in the aftermath of the coup, continues to carry the “tutelary” traces and underlying philosophy of that period despite numerous amendments made over the years.

“The September 12, 1980 coup is the name of a dark period in which the will of the nation was usurped by force of arms, the law was suspended, and severe human rights violations occurred,” HÜDA PAR said.

The party argued that the coup’s political and legal legacy has not been fully dismantled, saying that Türkiye must confront not only those responsible for the coup but also the institutional and ideological structures left behind by it.

‘Türkiye can no longer continue with a coup constitution’

HÜDA PAR said Türkiye’s future depends on moving beyond the constitutional framework inherited from the 1980 military intervention.

“Türkiye can no longer continue on its path with a coup constitution,” the statement said.

The party linked the call for constitutional reform to its vision of a stronger Türkiye capable of addressing long-standing domestic problems and contributing more effectively to regional and global peace.

“If the goal in the ‘Century of Türkiye’ is a country that has broken out of its own shells, strengthened its internal front, solved its chronic problems, and makes a strong contribution to regional and global peace, then the way to achieve this is by getting rid of the coup constitution,” it said.

Call for a new social contract

HÜDA PAR also called for a new constitution based on broad social consensus, describing such a document as an increasingly urgent need.

“A new, civilian, and inclusive constitution based on social consensus, grounded in rights and freedoms, consolidating justice, and guaranteeing our differences can no longer be postponed,” the statement said.

The party stressed that a genuine break with the legacy of September 12 would require more than addressing the individuals who carried out the coup.

“Truly leaving September 12 behind is only possible by confronting not only the actors of the coup but also its legal and mental legacy,” HÜDA PAR said.

The September 12, 1980 military coup remains one of the most consequential turning points in modern Turkish political history. The military takeover dissolved parliament, suspended political activity and ushered in a period marked by widespread arrests, political repression and serious human rights violations. The 1982 Constitution was subsequently adopted under military rule and has undergone numerous amendments since then. (ILKHA)