BY NURAY MERT
RADIKAL- Discussion of the new draft constitution is continuing. I wonder how these debates will end. But first let's talk about some basic problems. Everyone demanding democratization has wanted changes to the current Constitution, a product of the Sept. 12, 1980 regime. But, there's no term like `civilian' or `democratic' ready in the world right now. Constitutions are texts which can be produced as the political result of the democratic process of particular countries.
As a result, someone will prepare this text. There will be some political will behind it, it will be discussed, and debated, and finally accepted in a democratic way. All the measures to promote democracy, opening the draft constitution up for debate, criticisms, and listening to the proposals are part of presenting it to the public. The political will behind changing Constitution can't possibly do more.
But it's clear that the new draft constitution will fall short of meeting the demands for democracy. The reason for this is simple: everybody's understanding of democracy is different.
People who believe that secularism is under threat are suspicious about some proposals. Yet people pressing demands for freedom of faith and conscience see these suspicious as pressure from a small sector of society. This approach is putting a different sort of pressure on the government. For this reason, one of the most important issues, that of headscarves, can't be resolved, so it will be left to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Under these circumstances, Erdogan will bear all the responsibility, no matter what he decides. Moreover, the issue will continue to be controversial.
Mandatory religion courses in schools are also continuing to be debated. In my opinion, it would be reasonable to end these courses, but also to lift restrictions on religious education. But in the current atmosphere, opening the floodgates of debate over religious education could lead to tension.
The Kurdish problem is another controversial issue. If you open the way to identity and cultural rights, it could be perceived as a concession to Kurdish nationalism. But if you don't, then the demands for these won't be met. There isn't social or political compromise on either secularism or the Kurdish problem. In a country where some see an issue as a threat while others see it as an indispensable right, you can't satisfy anyone, no matter what you write. There's no compromise in the ruling party, which is natural. However, this is Turkey's problem, not the ruling party's.
Not only on the Constitution, but if things continue like this, the government will face the risk of not being able to govern, and everyone will try to put the responsibility for this on the shoulders of others.
Easing the tension and ensuring political and social compromise can't be achieved through pressure. Under these conditions, there's no miracle formula, including the Constitution. But everyone should do their best to reach a compromise.