Turkey’s opposition alliance has promised to change many of President Tayyip Erdogan’s policies if he is elected on May 14, as all signs show. Yesterday, Monday, she nominated the chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Kemal Kilicdaroglu, as a presidential candidate.

The Table of Six promises a return to parliamentary democracy, an end to unorthodox economic policies, and major changes in foreign policy.

Legislative and executive reform

The P6’s main promise is to return Turkey to a parliamentary system that they say will be “stronger” than the one that existed before the country switched to the current presidential system in 2018.

They will return the office of prime minister, abolished by Erdogan in a referendum in 2017.

They also promise to turn the presidency into an “impartial” role without political responsibility. Among their promises is the abolition of the president’s right to veto laws and decrees.

A president who cuts ties with any political party will be elected for only one seven-year term, after which he will be denied active political participation.

The powers of Parliament to withdraw from international agreements will be enshrined in the constitution. He will also have more powers in planning the state budget.

In public administration, councils and agencies under the President will be abolished, and their tasks will be transferred to the relevant ministries.

Economy

The National Alliance promised 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 in the past five years.

They will ensure, they say, the independence of the central bank and remove measures such as the cabinet’s right to choose the governor.

The alliance will draft legislation that will allow parliament to legislate on the bank’s mission, operational independence and high-level appointments.

The six pledged to put an end to anti-float policies, including a government program that protects sterling deposits from currency depreciation.

They pledged to cut government spending by reducing the number of planes used by the president, the number of cars used by government officials, and the sale of some government buildings.

They will consider all public-private partnership projects.

They will also review the Akoyu nuclear power plant project and renegotiate natural gas supply contracts, reducing the risk of dependence on certain countries for fuel 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 promising to “work to complete the process of accession” to full EU membership, the alliance pledged to revise Turkey’s 2016 refugee agreement with the EU.

He also promised to build relations with the US on the understanding of mutual trust and Turkey’s return to the F-35 fighter program.

They say Turkey will maintain relations with Russia “on the understanding that both sides are equal and strengthened by a balanced and constructive dialogue.”

Legal reforms

The six parties have pledged to ensure the independence of the judiciary, which is now believed to be under the control of Erdogan and his allies.

The readiness of judges to comply with the decisions of the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights will be taken into account when assessing the promotion of judicial officials.

Judges and prosecutors guilty of rights violations that will result in Turkey being fined in two courts will have to pay a fine. Steps will be taken to ensure that the courts quickly enforce the decisions of the two high courts.

They promised to reform the Council of Judges and Prosecutors and split it into two bodies that they say would be more accountable and transparent.

They are also reforming the structure and electoral procedures for higher courts such as the Constitutional Court, the Court of Cassation and the Council of State.

The parties have pledged to provide pre-trial detention as an exception, a measure critics say is being abused under Erdogan’s rule.

They will strengthen freedom of speech and expand the right to protest.

Source: Reuters.