ANKARA (Portal) – Turkey’s opposition alliance has vowed to reverse many of President Tayyip Erdogan’s policies if he is elected in a vote expected on May 14, and on Monday the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Kemal Kilicdaroglu, named her presidential candidate.
The six-party Nation Alliance pledges to return to parliamentary democracy, roll back unorthodox economic policies and initiate a sea change in foreign policy.
Here are details of their political program:
LEGISLATION AND EXECUTION REFORMS
The Nation Alliance’s main pledge is to bring Turkey back to a parliamentary system that it says will be “stronger” than the one that existed before the country switched to the current presidential system in 2018.
They would bring back the post of prime minister, which Erdogan abolished in a 2017 referendum.
They also promise to transform the presidency into a “non-partisan” role with no political accountability. Among their pledges is the abolition of the President’s veto on laws and decrees.
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The president, who will sever ties with any political party, will serve only a seven-year term, after which he will be barred from active politics.
Parliament’s power to withdraw from international agreements is enshrined in the constitution. She will also have more powers in planning the state budget.
In public administration, committees and offices under the presidency will be abolished and their tasks transferred to the responsible ministries.
BUSINESS
The Nation Alliance has pledged to bring inflation, which stood at 55% in February, to single digits within two years and restore stability to the Turkish lira, which has lost 80% of its value over the past five years.
They will ensure central bank independence and reverse measures such as allowing the cabinet to elect the governor.
The alliance will prepare legislation that will allow Parliament to pass legislation on the bank’s mission, operational independence and senior appointments.
They have vowed to end policies that disrupt a floating exchange rate, including a government program that protects lira deposits from currency devaluation.
They have pledged to cut government spending by reducing the number of planes used by the presidency, the number of vehicles used by officials, and selling some state buildings.
They will review all public-private partnership projects.
They will review the Akkuyu nuclear power plant project and renegotiate natural gas contracts to reduce the risk of dependency on certain countries for gas imports.
FOREIGN POLICY
The opposition bloc will adopt the slogan “Peace at Home, Peace in the World” as the cornerstone of Turkey’s foreign policy.
While the alliance vowed to “work towards completing the accession process” for full European Union membership, it has pledged to review Turkey’s 2016 refugee deal with the EU.
They have also pledged to build trusting relations with the United States and reinstate Turkey in the F-35 fighter jet program.
They say Turkey will maintain relations with Russia “with the understanding that both parties have equal rights and are strengthened by balanced and constructive dialogue.”
LEGAL REFORMS
The six parties have pledged to ensure the independence of the judiciary, which is currently believed to be under the control of Erdogan and his allies.
The judges’ willingness to abide by the judgments of the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights is taken into account when assessing promotions.
Judges and prosecutors who cause violations of the law that result in Turkey being fined in the two courts will be made to pay the fine. Measures are being taken to ensure that the courts swiftly implement the rulings of the two Supreme Courts.
They have promised to reform the Council of Judges and Prosecutors, splitting it into two entities that they say will be more accountable and transparent.
They will also reform the structure and election procedures for higher courts such as the Constitutional Court, the Court of Cassation and the Council of State.
The parties have promised to ensure that pre-trial detention remains the exception, a measure critics say is being abused under Erdogan’s rule.
They will strengthen freedom of expression and expand the right to demonstrate.
Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever and Ali Kucukgocmen; Edited by Jonathan Spicer and Christina Fincher
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