Author
Asst Prof nurullah gorgen
Organisation/Institution
Istanbul Medeniyet University
Country
TURKEY
Panel
Constitutional and Admin Law
Title
Deparliamentarization in Turkey under the Turkish-Type Presidential System
Abstract
From the establishment of the Republic of Turkey until the 2017 constitutional amendment, the principle of parliamentary supremacy—and consequently the role of parliament within the political system—occupied a central and active position in the democratic regime. Under the Turkish parliamentary system, the foundations of a tutelary structure were laid both through legal regulations and in political practice. Nevertheless, parliament did not entirely lose its function as an influential body in Turkish political life. Within the framework of the parliamentary form of government, members of parliament exercised not only legislative authority but also responsibilities such as forming, supervising, and, when necessary, dismissing the government. However, following the transition to a presidential system through the 2017 constitutional amendment, criticisms have intensified, contending that the balance of power has shifted decisively in favor of the executive and that the functions of parliament have been significantly curtailed. This study examines the phenomenon of deparliamentarization in Turkey within the context of the new governmental system established by the 2017 constitutional amendment. It argues that deparliamentarization in Turkey results from two primary factors: a. The general global weakening of parliamentary institutions, and b. The specific erosion of parliamentary functionality under the 2017 presidential system. Subsequently, the study advances several recommendations aimed at enhancing parliamentary effectiveness. In this regard, it seeks to strengthen parliamentary functionality within the framework of constitutional democracy and the principle of separation of powers, thereby ensuring mutual checks and balances among state institutions and preventing potential abuses of authority.
Biography
Dr. Nurullah Görgen is an Assistant Professor of Constitutional Law at Istanbul Medeniyet University, where his work focuses on constitutional theory, comparative government systems, executive power, judicial independence, and the rule of law. His research particularly examines the position of the head of state, the evolution of presidential and parliamentary systems, and weak-form judicial review models. He completed his PhD in Law at the Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London, under the supervision of Professor Robert Blackburn, and served as a Visiting Researcher at the European University Institute in Florence under Professor Gábor Halmai. He also holds an LLM in Advanced Legal Studies from the University of Reading and an LLB from Istanbul University, and he is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Dr. Görgen has extensive teaching experience in the United Kingdom, having taught Public Law, UK Constitutional Law, and related subjects at both Durham University and King’s College London. He has also led multiple modules at the King’s College London Pre-University Summer School, delivering lectures, designing curricula, supervising student research, and providing academic mentoring. In Türkiye, he teaches Constitutional Law and Political Parties Law and has served in administrative roles including Erasmus Coordinator, Bologna Coordinator, and Vice Dean. His publications include Constitutional Review and the Composition of the Turkish Constitutional Court (2025), A Study of the Evolution of the Office of Head of State in Turkey (2024), and numerous peer-reviewed journal articles on the British executive, judicial independence, constitutional monarchy, and comparative constitutional law.
