Sahin pledges push on new constitution

With an official ceremony at Parliament over the weekend, newly elected Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin took over his duties from his predecessor Koksal Toptan. Speaking at the ceremony, Sahin said that he would be making an all-out effort to draw up and pass a new Constitution, calling it something Turkey clearly needs, but stressed the importance of consensus in Parliament for this. "Changing the Constitution is something everyone in Turkey definitely agrees with," he said. "But it is also important to reach a consensus among political parties in Parliament." Sahin also called Parliament the most important place for solving the nation's problems. Also speaking at the ceremony, Toptan, echoing Sahin, stressed Parliament's significance as the place where all the country's problems should be resolved. Characterizing the Parliament speaker post as a source of honor and pride, Toptan said he believes Sahin will achieve more than he did. Toptan also said that everyone should fulfill their responsibilities to help strengthen democracy. Sahin, a member of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party and former justice minister, was elected Turkey's 24th Parliament speaker last week with the support of 338 deputies in the third round of voting. Other candidates were main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Istanbul Deputy Ilhan Kesici, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Sakarya Deputy Munir Kutluata, and Tunceli independent Deputy Kamer Genc.