Opposition parties blast Kilic for remarks on cıonstitiuon

Opposition parties yesterday blasted Constitutional Court head Hasim Kilic over recent remarks saying that the first four articles of the Constitution, which are unalterable, could be open to discussion. Akif Hamzacelebi and Mustafa Ozyurek, deputies of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), and Democratic Left Party (DSP) Deputy Harun Ozturk criticized the top court's head for the remarks. Ozturk said, "Our state's founding philosophy is being secular, social, democrat and under the rule of law. Its regime is a republic, its language is Turkish, and its capital is Ankara." It is beyond comprehension why anyone is bothered by these principles, he added, saying that questioning these basic matters cannot benefit Turkey. In addition, Constitutional Court Deputy head Osman Paksut said that he assumed Kilic's remarks represented his personal views, and the members of the court had not been aware of them.