 Ümit Boyner, head of the Turkish Industry and Business Association, or TÜSİAD, called for a new Constitution in accordance with the requirements of the 21st century and focusing on individuals. |
The president of Turkey’s leading business association has called for the 10 percent election threshold to be lowered, saying everyone should be represented in Parliament.
Ümit Boyner, head of the Turkish Industry and Business Association, or TÜSİAD, also called for a new Constitution in accordance with the requirements of the 21st century and focusing on individuals.
Her remarks came after her meeting with pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party, or BDP, co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Gültan Kışanak on Wednesday.
Stating that her visit was part of activities marking the 40th anniversary of the association, Boyner said elections were approaching and the business association would share its report on problems facing Turkey with political parties on March 1. Boyner also said they would invite the representatives of all political parties to TÜSİAD to present information on their party programs and election promises.
When asked to comment on the BDP’s demand to lower the 10 percent election threshold, Boyner said representation of all sections of society in Parliament was crucial.
“We believe the 10 percent election threshold is problematic. We have thus frequently voiced our opinion that it should be lowered,” Boyner told reporters.
“We believe the exclusion of certain circles from Parliament as the parties they support fail to receive 10 percent in the general elections will affect the new constitution process negatively as Turkey marches toward a new constitution,” she said.
Asked whether the BDP’s demand for bilingual language options should be included in the possible new constitution, Boyner said their demands should at least be discussed in public.
“As TÜSİAD, we want a new constitution that will focus on the rights of the individual and meet the necessities of the 21st century,” she said. “It will, of course, have many things in detail, including the issues we have been discussing. We are also working on a draft that we will make public in March.”
The BDP’s Kışanak said the meeting was important because dialogue and sharing policies were needed in the country.
“The tendency of all sections to focus solely on themselves from where they stand is one of the problems in the country that leave the country’s larger problems unsolved. Social responsibility requires sensitivity to all problems,” Kışanak said.
She said the BDP is a party that gives great importance to labor and justice in work life, and it is important to discuss such issues with the employers.
Boyner later visited former President Süleyman Demirel and the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP.
Speaking after his meeting with Boyner, Demirel, Turkey’s ninth president, told reporters that TÜSİAD has proven the importance of industry and development in its 40-year history.
“The association had a few members when it was first founded, now it has hundreds,” Demirel said. “At the time, the state led the industry efforts in the country, now the private sector carries the flag.”
Demirel said there is no “magic receipt” for development and the way to develop is to integrate with the global economy and make the best use of the country’s human resources and skills.
Boyner said Demirel was a witness to the TÜSİAD’s history. “TÜSİAD has two axis; first the country should continue to walk on the democratization path, and second Turkey should find its place in the changing world.”
Ümit Boyner, head of the Turkish Industry and Business Association, or TÜSİAD, also called for a new Constitution in accordance with the requirements of the 21st century and focusing on individuals.
Her remarks came after her meeting with pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party, or BDP, co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Gültan Kışanak on Wednesday.
Stating that her visit was part of activities marking the 40th anniversary of the association, Boyner said elections were approaching and the business association would share its report on problems facing Turkey with political parties on March 1. Boyner also said they would invite the representatives of all political parties to TÜSİAD to present information on their party programs and election promises.
When asked to comment on the BDP’s demand to lower the 10 percent election threshold, Boyner said representation of all sections of society in Parliament was crucial.
“We believe the 10 percent election threshold is problematic. We have thus frequently voiced our opinion that it should be lowered,” Boyner told reporters.
“We believe the exclusion of certain circles from Parliament as the parties they support fail to receive 10 percent in the general elections will affect the new constitution process negatively as Turkey marches toward a new constitution,” she said.
Asked whether the BDP’s demand for bilingual language options should be included in the possible new constitution, Boyner said their demands should at least be discussed in public.
“As TÜSİAD, we want a new constitution that will focus on the rights of the individual and meet the necessities of the 21st century,” she said. “It will, of course, have many things in detail, including the issues we have been discussing. We are also working on a draft that we will make public in March.”
The BDP’s Kışanak said the meeting was important because dialogue and sharing policies were needed in the country.
“The tendency of all sections to focus solely on themselves from where they stand is one of the problems in the country that leave the country’s larger problems unsolved. Social responsibility requires sensitivity to all problems,” Kışanak said.
She said the BDP is a party that gives great importance to labor and justice in work life, and it is important to discuss such issues with the employers.
Boyner later visited former President Süleyman Demirel and the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP.
Speaking after his meeting with Boyner, Demirel, Turkey’s ninth president, told reporters that TÜSİAD has proven the importance of industry and development in its 40-year history.
“The association had a few members when it was first founded, now it has hundreds,” Demirel said. “At the time, the state led the industry efforts in the country, now the private sector carries the flag.”
Demirel said there is no “magic receipt” for development and the way to develop is to integrate with the global economy and make the best use of the country’s human resources and skills.
Boyner said Demirel was a witness to the TÜSİAD’s history. “TÜSİAD has two axis; first the country should continue to walk on the democratization path, and second Turkey should find its place in the changing world.”
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