Selçuk Özdağ: 'Presidential Government System Has Failed to Fulfill Promises'

Unfulfilled Promises of the Presidential Government System
Speaking at the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Selçuk Özdağ, Deputy Group Leader of the Yeni Yol Party, criticized the 2017 constitutional change that established the Presidential Government System. Özdağ argued that the system has failed to meet the promises made to the public. "A more prestigious Parliament, a stronger government, and a more independent judiciary were promised. However, the political will has weakened, the legislative power has become ineffective, and MPs have become disconnected from the people," Özdağ said.

MP Transfers Undermine Political Trust
Özdağ also addressed the increasing frequency of parliamentary member transfers, stating that these actions have damaged the public’s trust in politics. "Voters cast their ballots based on trust in a specific party, yet MPs are crossing over to other parties without explanation. This amounts to the theft of voters’ will and the destruction of political trust," he emphasized.

Hypocrisy in MP Transfers
The Yeni Yol Party leader pointed out the hypocrisy in the current government’s stance on MP transfers. He recalled how President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had previously opposed such transfers when former MP Hakan Şükür left the AK Party. "When Hakan Şükür left the AK Party, Erdoğan said, 'He didn’t come as an independent, so he should resign from his position.' Now, however, they themselves are orchestrating MP transfers. We are dealing with a government that does the exact opposite of what it used to say," Özdağ stated.

Changes to the Political Parties Law Needed
To prevent further MP transfers and protect the public’s right to political representation, Özdağ called for changes to the Political Parties Law. He suggested the following reforms:

• Move away from leader-centric politics and let the public choose parliamentary candidates.
• Implement a preferential voting system to allow voters to directly choose candidates.
• Apply a reduced district election system to allow people to directly elect their representatives.

Parliament Risks Losing Public Trust
Özdağ warned that the current system is creating a negative image of MPs and the Parliament. "There is a growing perception that MPs don’t keep their promises and betray the trust placed in them. To break this perception, the Political Parties Law needs to be changed, and a system must be established where MPs are truly empowered to represent the people," he said.

He concluded his speech by urging support for his proposal, calling for the strengthening of ethical and moral standards in politics: "Support our proposal and help ensure that ethics and morality prevail in politics."