In his address, Baykal also criticized the AK PARTY’s, attempts to push for Constitutional amendments involving a judiciary reform package.

Baykal said such comprehensive and significant amendments should be carried out through the broader consensus and participation of society.

Constitutional Court President Haşim Kılıç recently urged the government to seek a broader consensus.

Baykal said those remarks should be taken seriously.

Baykal added “The constitutional changes are not a matter solely confined to a single political party. They concern all of Turkey. This project will be the Constitution of 70 million people living in this country.  Turkey’s political parties, professional organizations, judicial institutions, non-governmental organizations, universities and unions should all contribute to the initiative.”


Baykal said his party would not let the Supreme Board of Prosecutors and Judges be restructured like Turkey´s Radio and Television Supreme Council.


That council has been highly criticized due to the perception that it is politically influenced.


Baykal also touched on the recent resolution of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee labeling the Ottoman-era massacre of Armenians as “genocide.”


On that topic, Baykal criticized the protocols to normalize relations between Armenia and Turkey.