Speaking at the opening of the 5th Legislative Year of the 28th Term of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, President Erdoğan said: “In our region that has of late turned into a ring of fire, the terror-free Türkiye efforts have already created a deterrent effect upon Türkiye’s adversaries and have multiplied Türkiye’s strength and ushered in a new era.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered the opening speech of the 5th Legislative Year of the 28th Term of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (GNAT).
President Erdoğan said: “In Türkiye, ‘bloc politics’ built solely on opposition to the government is no longer tenable. It is wrong to transform politics from a competition in service, achievement and action into a ‘war of attrition’ where the counterparty is demonized. Global and regional developments make a new style of politics imperative.
“Conflict and polarization must give way to reconciliation and tolerance”
At the stage we have reached, there are two paths before us: We shall either continue on our current path with the old style of politics centered on polarization and division… Or we shall establish a new political paradigm in Türkiye based on finding common ground and ‘competition in consensus’.
If Türkiye is once again to be great and powerful… If Türkiye is to seize the historic opportunities opening up before it… We must bring about this paradigm shift swiftly.
In saying this, we certainly do not mean that every political party must think alike or align on every issue. However contrary they may be, different political parties, and different ideas are an asset to Türkiye and the Turkish democracy. However, the priority of every political party must be, and must remain, Türkiye. Every political party should pursue ‘Türkiye-centered politics’, drawing strength and inspiration from Türkiye's own internal dynamics and from its own grassroots.
Conflict and polarization must give way to reconciliation and tolerance. On matters concerning Türkiye’s national interests and issues affecting every single member of our nation, politics must be able to find common ground on the basis of full consensus.
“Terrorism have squandered Türkiye’s energy”
We call this ‘the fortification of the home front’. We call this ‘the Great Türkiye Consensus’. I wish to emphasize in particular that our ‘terror-free Türkiye’ process is aimed precisely at building this social consensus, this national consensus.
In our region that has of late turned into a ring of fire, the terror-free Türkiye efforts have already created a deterrent effect upon Türkiye’s adversaries and have multiplied Türkiye’s strength and ushered in a new era. It is simply impossible for terrorism or terrorist organizations to divide or fragment Türkiye; but it is evident that terrorism and terrorist organizations have squandered Türkiye’s energy, held Türkiye back and depleted Türkiye’s resources.
Focused on the fight against terrorism for the last 42 years, Türkiye has lost many young sons and daughters and its material resources. The internal debates fueled by terrorism have threatened Türkiye’s economy, peace and security, and have weakened its hand in foreign policy.
Yet today terrorism has reached an end, terrorist attacks have ceased, and the terrorist organization has announced its decision to dissolve itself and lay down its arms. The historic consensus displayed in the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye with 467 votes in favor of the enactment of the Framework Law has brought joy to our dear nation and the friends of Türkiye while without doubt upset Türkiye’s adversaries.
"Conditions for Türkiye to make a libertarian and civilian constitution will mature even further”
On this occasion, I would like to once again express my gratitude, on behalf of my party, my country and my nation, to Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party, our partner in the People's Alliance, who has given great support to the terror-free Türkiye process with the prudent, resolute and courageous stance he has displayed from the very first day. I would also like to extend my thanks to the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party Group, whose invaluable contributions have ensured that this process has reached this stage safe and sound.
I also thank the political party groups that displayed a constructive attitude both in the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission and in the adoption of the Framework Law, and I believe that their support will continue. As also laid down in the Framework Law, there is a monitoring process. Once the necessary steps are taken, our relevant institutions will also do what is required. It is precisely at this point that the national consensus I spoke of a moment ago will take on even greater significance.
In an environment free of terrorism, conflict and strife, it will become much easier and more possible to discuss our problems with mutual respect and to produce solutions. Allah willing, the democratic capacity of politics will grow even stronger. I believe the conditions for Türkiye to make a new, democratic, participatory, libertarian and civilian constitution will mature even further.”
