Turkish PM repeats call for a new constitution

ANKARA

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu reiterated Tuesday his call for a new and liberal constitution that was not prepared by coup leaders.

"Turkey's most important priority in this new period is a new constitution. Turkey can no longer be ruled with a coup constitution that does not have a spirit of democracy," the premier told an extended meeting of his Justice and Development (AK) Party provincial chairs in Ankara.

Turkey’s current constitution was written after the Sept. 12, 1980 military coup.

"Our biggest need is a liberal constitution that is based on human dignity, and the principle of separation of powers. God willing, we will achieve this goal, and prepare a constitution which is in line with Turkey's changing circumstances," he said.

In Nov. 1 snap elections, the AK Party regained its single-party majority with 317 seats in the 550-seat Turkish parliament by winning 49.5 percent of the vote.

The party secured almost nine percent more votes compared to the inconclusive general election on June 7 that saw no party win an outright majority.

Turkey's new MPs are taking their oaths on Tuesday. The parliament will also elect a new speaker, after which the president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is expected to give the mandate to Davutoglu – as the chairman of the AK Party – to form a new cabinet.

The number of seats required to hold a referendum on changing the constitution is 330.