Ümit Boyner Attends the TÜRKONFED Presidents Council Meeting in Antalya

President of the Board of Directors of TÜSİAD, Ms. Ümit Boyner attended the Presidents Council meeting of TÜRKONFED (the Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation) held on 15th April in Antalya.

Speaking at the meeting, Boyner stated "TÜSİAD has prepared a report that seeks to put forward views and proposals for a more democratic Turkey that makes greater strides towards EU membership, sustainable development and growth, and higher productivity". She went on to explain "Our approach to democratization rests on three main reforms. We hope for a new Constitution, and reformed laws on political parties and elections, that are more participatory and democratic. We believe that Turkey is in need of a wide-ranging vision in which the principle of the separation of powers is applied, checks and balances mechanisms are expanded, and a pluralistic parliamentary democracy is realized together with all pertinent rules." Arguing that it was important to achieve a constitutional framweork without any room for immunity or discrimination, in which the independence of the judiciary is protected and all state processes are subject to judicial review, Boyner stressed that economic reform could only be sustained in a democratic society. Boyner also pointed to the importance of the EU membership process, and the need for all political parties to develop a concrete plan and calendar for meeting the economic, social and political opening criteria in the EU membership process.