The groups, including the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), the Turkish Confederation of Public Laborers’ Unions (Kamu-Sen), the Turkish Confederation of Labor Unions (Turk-Is), the Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen’s and Craftsmen’s Unions (TESK), the Turkish Confederation of Employers’ Unions (TISK), the Turkish Agricultural Chambers’ Union (TZOB) and the Moral Rights Workers’ Union (Hak-Is), said in their statement that Turkey today needed clam and common sense more than at any other time.
The statement, read out by TOBB chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu, said that Turkey was undergoing a difficult test of democracy and law test.
“It is our common wish to bring our country out of this critical time without any injuries and harm,” the statement said.
“It is a mishap that we are still seeking common sense in days we are supposed to seek economic measures as we are seeing the impact of international financial crisis. Turkey should focus on economic and social problems, particularly unemployment, as soon as possible.”
The Republic of Turkey was a democratic, secular and social state of law based on the first articles of the constitution, with these principles essential to keep the people and the nation together, the statement read.
“Every issue other than these principles can be a matter of politics and be freely discussed,” it said. “The political process in Turkey raises despair and pessimism. It jeopardizes political, economic and social stability and prevents the society from directing its energy to positive areas.”
While saying that political parties were indispensable elements of democracy and that the easy closing of parties, and the restricting of freedoms of institutions and individuals with the same easy approach harm democratic process and institutions instead of strengthening them, the statement also said the principle of separation of powers should ensure harmony among powers, not cause clashes or feed the polarization that is tried to be caused in the society, and assure independence of powers.
The country was undergoing a tense process due to various problems concerning the constitution and political parties law, it said.
“However, what should be done is to take the economic, political and social standards of our country to the level of developed countries, and speed up the EU process.”
Turkey needed a constitution and a new political parties law which is in line with the changing conditions in the world, meeting expectations of the society and integrating universal values with Turkey’s own values and the rule of law should be reinforced, the statement read “Turkey deserves a constitution that will be prepared with a compromise of all segments of the society after long discussion of problems.”
