A major blow to 12 September coup constitution…

but of course there are many who oppose the constitutional changes just because they are made by AKP. we will see more drama in near future but for the moment let me hail a more democratic constitution…

Lawmakers of the ruling Justice and Development Party celebrate after the official results were announced at the parliament in Ankara, Turkey, early Friday, May 7, 2010. Turkey’s parliament has narrowly passed a series of fiercely contested constitutional amendments that the opposition parties argue they will give the Islamic-rooted government too much power over the judiciary. The president is now widely expected to submit the measures to a referendum this summer since the 336 votes in favor of the amendments on Friday were short of the 367 required votes in the 550-seat assembly to adopt the proposals outright.? Read more » (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Turkish Parliament Approves Bill to Overhaul Judiciary and Role of Military

Lawmakers of ruling Justice and Development Party celebrate after a package of amendments to the 1982 constitution was approved at the parliament, in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, May 6, 2010.The Turkish parliament voted in favor of a number of fiercely contested constitutional amendments, but by a narrow margin, meaning a referendum will be held.? Read more »

(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Turkey backs constitution changes

Turkey’s parliament clears way for constitution referendum

Officials count votes after lawmakers voted at the parliament in Ankara, Turkey, early Friday, May 7, 2010. Turkey’s parliament has narrowly passed a series of fiercely contested constitutional amendments that the opposition parties argue will give the Islamic-rooted government too much power over the judiciary. The president is now widely expected to submit the measures to a referendum this summer since the 336 votes in favor of the amendments on Friday were short of the 367 required votes in the 550-seat assembly to adopt the proposals outright.? Read more »(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Turkey lawmakers narrowly pass contested constitutional amendments, will likely get referendum

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Turkey’s parliament has narrowly passed a series of fiercely contested constitutional amendments that include putting military commanders before civilian courts and g..

Lawmakers of the ruling Justice and Development Party joke as they cast their votes at the parliament in Ankara, Turkey, early Friday, May 7, 2010. Turkey’s parliament has narrowly passed a series of fiercely contested constitutional amendments that the opposition parties argue they will give the Islamic-rooted government too much power over the judiciary. The president is now widely expected to submit the measures to a referendum this summer since the 336 votes in favor of the amendments on Friday were short of the 367 required votes in the 550-seat assembly to adopt the proposals outright.? Read more » (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Most critical article in package passes, HSYK to be restructured
Today’s Zaman
However, in off-the-record conversations, some AK Party deputies expressed concerns that the Ergenekon structure — a clandestine gang charged with plotting

Members of parliament from the ruling Justice and Development Party and the main opposition Republican People’s Party scuffle during a debate at a parliamentary session in Ankara late May 5, 2010. The Turkish parliament is debating changes to the constitution.? Read more » REUTERS

Final critical amendment passes amid debate on PM’s assets

Ruling Justice and Development Party, AKP, lawmakers try to control an angry AKP member as the parliament debate a package of amendments to the 1982 constitution, in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, May 6, 2010. The Turkish parliament appears poised to vote in favor of a number of fiercely contested constitutional amendments, but by a narrow margin, meaning a referendum will be held. The parliament is expected to hold a final vote on the amendments later Thursday.? Read more »(AP Photo)

Free will

?The deputies exercised their free will?, said Prime Minister Erdogan yesterday. He said it after one of the most important constitutional reforms (about making it more difficult to close political parties) was not adopted by parliament. The reform needed 330 votes to be part of a referendum package later this year, but it got only […]

A general view of Turkey’s parliament as lawmakers debate a package of amendments to the 1982 constitution, in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, May 6, 2010.? Read more »(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

SUAT KINIKLIOĞLU – Constitutional reform and the vagaries of the BDP

Ruling Justice and Development Party, AKP, lawmakers chat as the parliament debate a package of amendments to the 1982 constitution, in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, May 6, 2010.The Turkish parliament appears poised to vote in favor of a number of fiercely contested constitutional amendments, but by a narrow margin, meaning a referendum will be held.The parliament is expected to hold a final vote on the amendments later Thursday.? Read more » (AP Photo)

Turkey’s Parliament passes amendment to alter judicial body

Turkish Parliament rejects party closure article in reform debate

The Turkish Parliament rejected a critical article regarding party closures, Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Şahin said Monday.

Pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party lawmaker Sirri Sakik addresses the parliament in Ankara, Turkey, arly Friday, May 7, 2010. Turkey’s parliament has narrowly passed a series of fiercely contested constitutional amendments that the opposition parties argue they will give the Islamic-rooted government too much power over the judiciary.? Read more » (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

YAVUZ BAYDAR – Aftermath of a defeat foretold

It should have been understood by now that the process of constitutional reform is much more than it seems. Due to some crucial points, it is about causing a ?democratic destruction? on the trenches of the Old Order, which kept society on a leash for decades.

Pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party lawmaker Hasip Kaplan addresses the parliament as lawmakers debate a package of amendments to the 1982 constitution, in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, May 6, 2010. Turkish lawmakers were voting Thursday on a raft of fiercely contested constitutional amendments that could put military commanders before civilian courts and give parliament a say in appointing judges. The measures were expected to pass the parliamentary vote, but only narrowly, meaning a referendum would then be held.? Read more » (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

FATMA DİŞLİ ZIBAK – Why did some AK Party deputies dissent?

The exclusion of a critical article, Article 8, that would make party closures more difficult in the government?s constitutional reform package after its failure to receive 330 votes in the second round of voting, necessary to be submitted to a referendum, continues to be an issue of debate in the Turkish media as the result was unexpected.

Kamer Genc, an independent lawmaker from eastern Turkish province of Tunceli, accuses Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of corruption as the parliament debate a package of amendments to the 1982 constitution, in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, May 6, 2010. The Turkish parliament appears poised to vote in favor of a number of fiercely contested constitutional amendments, but by a narrow margin, meaning a referendum will be held. The parliament is expected to hold a final vote on the amendments later Thursday.? Read more » (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

New member of the coalition, Abdullah Öcalan

The jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, CHP leader Deniz Baykal, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli and the supporters of Ergenekon, a shadowy crime network that has alleged links within the state, in the ranks of the AK Party have formed an alliance.

Erzincan part of Ergenekon trial begins in Turkey

Sept. 12, May 1 and the CHP

?Dear deputies, let us share the honor of getting rid of the black stain on Turkey?s law and Constitution. Let us be realistic: We will either be able to put some 90-or-so-year-old ex-generals before the courts or leave their fate to divine justice. But we are doing something: Turkey?s elected legislative body today, for the first time, says, ?Yes, coup perpetrators can be subjected to trial and interrogated?.?

Can Kurds confront PKK?s Ergenekon? by ORHAN KEMALCENGİZ

The AK Party and liberal attitudes by Atilla Yayla

I received an e-mail on April 9, 2010. The message sent by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) explained the attitude the LDP will take with respect to the constitutional amendment package and announced that they will launch a campaign to promote rejection of the package in the referendum. Another message came on April 17.

We?re increasing the judiciary’s independence, says Minister Ergin

Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin, the mastermind behind the 30-article constitutional package, has told Today’s Zaman that the government has no intention of politicizing the judiciary, but rather intends to lay the groundwork to ensure that the judiciary will grow more independent and impartial. Ergin apologetically noted that the government has failed to introduce the criteria formulated by the Venice Commission for party closures in its proposed constitutional reform package.

FATMA DİŞLİ ZIBAK – Furor over Führer comparisons continues

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan?s comparison of the late statesman and Republican People?s Party (CHP) Chairman İsmet İnönü, who succeeded Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as president of Turkey, to Adolf Hitler has sparked a war of words between the prime minister and CHP leader Deniz Baykal.

ETYEN MAHÇUPYAN – Ergenekon: one gang, one name, one network

Gaps in between different activities and plans in the Ergenekon case are closing. In retrospect, we can reckon that prosecutors prepared the indictments so as to fill in these gaps because in the beginning, all they had were documents and groups of tight relations.