On the 45th anniversary of the September 12, 1980 military coup, HÜDA PAR issued a statement emphasizing that the institutional legacy of the coup mentality continues to affect Türkiye’s political and social life through the 1982 Constitution.

The party highlighted the urgent need to draft a new, fair constitution that reflects the character of the Turkish people and addresses contemporary challenges, rather than perpetuating outdated structures.“Even today, 45 years later, the most urgent need is to draft a fair constitution that is in line with the character of the people and will provide solutions to problems, not create new ones,” the statement read.

HÜDA PAR criticized the coup, describing it as an attempt by what it called the “illegitimate children of imperialist America” to interrupt political life and suppress fundamental rights and freedoms. The 1980 coup, led by the Turkish Armed Forces under General Kenan Evren, dissolved Parliament, banned political parties, detained tens of thousands of citizens, and created a climate of fear and repression that pitted citizens against each other. Thousands were tortured, and many were executed in the aftermath of the coup.

“The coup plotters disregarded unifying values and sought to create a ‘single type of citizen,’ demonizing everyone outside that vision. The 1982 Constitution, which the junta forced upon the people, remains as the institutional legacy of this mentality,” HÜDA PAR said.

The party warned that the “coup-minded” mentality still undermines Türkiye’s political and social stability.

“The source of many of the problems we face today is this coup-minded mentality. It suppresses the demands of the people, instrumentalizes the legal system, and weakens political institutions. Minds under guardianship sanctify the will of the coup plotters, mortgaging the will of future generations and turning it into an untouchable taboo,” the statement continued.

HÜDA PAR stressed that confronting the coup’s legacy is not merely a matter of historical reckoning. The party called for the drafting of a liberal, people-centered constitution aligned with Türkiye’s cultural, social, and religious values.

“Forty-five years later, the most urgent need is still to create a fair constitution that will provide solutions to problems and place the people at the center of governance,” the statement concluded.

The September 12 coup, the third in Türkiye’s modern history, came amid widespread political violence and economic instability. The military justified its intervention as necessary to restore order, but the coup led to the suspension of democratic institutions, the arrest of tens of thousands of activists, and a crackdown on civil liberties. The subsequent 1982 Constitution centralized power in the presidency and limited political freedoms, a framework that critics argue continues to influence Turkish governance today. (ILKHA)