- Title: Turkish parliament debates bill on stronger presidency
- Date: 9th January 2017
- Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (JANUARY 9, 2017) (REUTERS) REPUBLICAN PEOPLE'S PARTY (CHP) LAWMAKER, OZGUR OZEL, WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) REPUBLICAN PEOPLE'S PARTY (CHP) LAWMAKER, OZGUR OZEL, SAYING: "This proposal shows the true face of a political party that says: 'We don't have any problem with (the secular) regime. We are part of this system and we pledge to carry out our own actions.' This is a proposal to change the regime. This is a counter revolution against parliamentarian democracy and the republican system that was given to the parliament on April 23, 1920 and legitimatised on September 29, 1923." CAMERAMAN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) CH REPUBLICAN PEOPLE'S PARTY (CHP) LAWMAKER, OZGUR OZEL, SAYING: "The situation of the prime minister is perhaps the biggest paradox in the history of republic. A prime minister tries to convince the lawmakers to stand for this proposal signed by him so he can be removed. And they want 330 votes from lawmakers in favour of removing the parliament. A group of people appointed by one person (the president), who is elected for another reason, will publish decrees from the palace and carry out the work of 550 elected lawmakers." RULING JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY (AKP) LAWMAKER, YUNUS BASER, WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY (AKP) LAWMAKER, YUNUS BASER, SAYING: "We are introducing a national system, as well as a universal one. Therefore, we don't have any qualms. This proposal for a constitutional change is in line with the needs of the country and this century. With the changes we aim to hold the parliamentary elections and the presidential elections together and our people will give their power to a legislative authority led by the president." CAMERAMAN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY (AKP) LAWMAKER, YUNUS BASER, SAYING: "These changes introduce a system in which the power is given to the legislation directly by the people. The legislation and execution will be independent from each other but they will work together in coherence. I believe our democracy will get stronger. This system ends chaos and coups in our country."
- Embargoed: 24th January 2017 17:28
- Keywords: Turkey parliament constitutional change CHP MHP AKP presidency Tayyip Erdogan
- Location: ANKARA, TURKEY
- City: ANKARA, TURKEY
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0025YD1N47
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
The Turkish parliament's general assembly began debating a bill for changing the constitution on Monday (January 9) in a bid to expand the president's powers.
The draft is expected to pass in parliament, which is dominated by the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP), before being put to a referendum in the spring, a move that would enable President Tayyip Erdogan to acquire the executive presidency he has long sought.
Erdogan has turned a largely ceremonial presidency into a powerful platform by drawing on his unrivalled popularity. His opponents say the constitutional proposals could lead towards authoritarian rule in Turkey.
"This proposal shows the true face of a political party that says: 'We don't have any problem with (the secular) regime. We are part of this system and we pledge to carry out our own actions.' This is a proposal to change the regime. This is a counter revolution against parliamentarian democracy and the republican system," a lawmaker from main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Ozgur Ozel, told Reuters.
Erdogan and his supporters argue that Turkey needs the strong leadership of an executive presidency, akin to the system in the United States or France, to avoid the fragile coalition governments that hampered its development in the past.
"We are introducing a national system, as well as a universal one. Therefore, we don't have any qualms. This proposal for a constitutional change is in line with the needs of the country and this century. With the changes we aim to hold the parliamentary elections and the presidential elections together and our people will give their power to a legislative authority led by the president," said Yunus Baser, a lawmaker from the ruling AKP.
The AKP, founded by Erdogan a decade and a half ago, is aiming to hold a referendum on the issue next spring and is seeking support from the nationalist Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) opposition order to win parliamentary approval for such a vote.
According to the draft, the president would be eligible to serve a maximum of two five-year terms and would be able to issue presidential decrees on most executive matters without the need to consult parliament.
The president would have up to two deputies and would directly appoint the heads of the military and intelligence agencies, university rectors, senior bureaucrats, and some top judicial bodies, expanding the powers of the role.
Such changes would likely alarm the European Union, which has been critical of the post-coup attempt crackdown.
Turkey, which aspires to join the EU, has dismissed or detained more than 110,000 civil servants, members of the security forces and other officials in a crackdown it says is justified by the gravity of the threat from the July 15 putsch.
Erdogan has ridden a wave of nationalist support since the abortive coup, vowing to crack down on Turkey's enemies at home and abroad, and support from the MHP will be vital for realizing his ambition of a stronger presidency. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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