Cracks in People’s Alliance deepen over cadet slogan, constitutional debate

The ruling coalition in Türkiye, known as the People’s Alliance, faces renewed internal tensions following the controversy surrounding cadets at the Turkish Military Academy graduation ceremony chanting “We are Mustafa Kemal’s soldiers.”

The incident has reignited an ongoing debate about the first four articles of the Turkish constitution, which enshrine the country’s secular and republican principles.

Differing reactions within coalition

While the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) expressed full support for the cadets, figures close to the ruling AK Party interpreted their actions as a call for military intervention. The slogan, chanted after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s speech, sparked a heated debate on social media, drawing both support from opposition groups and criticism from pro-government circles.

Broader cracks within alliance

The disagreement over the cadet’s slogan is not the only rift within the People’s Alliance. Recently, Türkiye’s Parliamentary Speaker Numan Kurtulmus of the AK Party, stated that debating the first four articles of the constitution was unnecessary, a comment that drew criticism from the alliance’s junior partner, Free Cause Party (HUDA-PAR).

HUDA-PAR Deputy Chairman Halef Yilmaz argued that issues arising under the guise of secularism should be corrected and questioned whether these could be resolved without revisiting the first four articles. MHP sources rejected HUDA-PAR’s stance, affirming that the party would not allow any changes to these foundational articles.

The first three articles of the constitution define the state’s form, characteristics, integrity, official language, flag, national anthem, and capital, while the fourth article states that these provisions are unchangeable.