CONTEMPORARY EURASIA IX ( 2 )
and in Turkey in general mostly avoided foreign relations and revolved around domestic issues . However , both the liberal constitution of 1961 , which resulted in bringing foreign policy issues to the public domain and the formation of the leftist movement in the 1960s , which was critical of the Western orientation of Turkey ’ s foreign policy made the discussions on foreign policy part of general political debate in Turkey . As a result , state foreign policy started to be more actively discussed and in some cases even criticized by political parties , including those represented in the GNAT . 20 Although since then foreign policy issues have started to be freely discussed in the GNAT and used by political parties in their political activities , the role of Parliament has continued to be mostly consultative and has not directly affected foreign policy decision-making .
The Constitutional amendments of 2017 in general did not change the power of the GNAT in the field of foreign policy . However , it practically eliminated the authority of Parliament over the government . In particular , through the adoption of a presidential system of government , the GNAT lost its power to elect the president , 21 as well as the authority of giving a vote of confidence to the government ’ s program and , if necessary , the power to unseat the government or any minister . 22 Instead , the parliament only received the power to renew presidential and parliamentary elections . 23 In other words , Parliament could still raise questions about state foreign policy , but could no longer , even indirectly , try to affect it .
To summarize , as a legislative body , the Grand National Assembly of Turkey has not been directly included in the process of foreign policy decision-making except for cases dealing with the signing of international treaties or declaring war / using the Armed Forces . In these cases , the parliamentary majority party ( if one existed ) and other political parties represented in the parliament ( especially in cases of coalition or minority governments ) could also be included in the process of foreign policy
20
For instance , within the period of 1960s the main topics discussed in the GNAT were the Cyprus issue and US-Turkey relations . 21 Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Anayasasında Değişiklik Yapılmasina Dair Kanun , Kanun No :
6771 , Kabul Tarihi : 21 / 01 / 2017 , Resmî Gazete : 11.02.2017 Sayı : 29976 , article 7 , https :// www . resmigazete . gov . tr / eskiler / 2017 / 02 / 20170211-1 . htm . According to the new rules , the President of the Republic of Turkey is to be elected directly by the public through general elections . However , the opportunity of electing the President through general elections was first introduced in 2007 by amendments made to the Constitution .
22
Ibid , article 16 , point E . By this point , the relevant articles number 110 and 92 of the Constitution of 1982 were repealed .
23
Ibid , article 11 . 36