Turkey to hold referendum on expanding Erdogan powers

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters in Istanbul, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. Erdogan started campaigning for constitutional reforms that would greatly expand the powers of hiShow more

Ankara // Turkey will hold a referendum this year on whether to dramatically expand the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after parliament backed the changes early on Saturday.

The government insists the proposals to create an executive presidency will ensure simpler and more effective leadership, but critics fear they will edge Turkey toward one-man rule.

Parliament approved a new 18-article constitution, which includes the presidency changes, in a final vote with 339 approving, and 142 MPs voting against the bill.

Each article was put to a vote in the 550-seat parliament, where the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) enjoys a comfortable majority. At least 330 votes — a three-fifths majority — were needed to adopt the constitutional change.

Immediately after the bill was approved, prime minister Binali Yildirim said the “last word” would be had by the people in a referendum, expected to be held in April.

Deputy prime minister Mehmet Simsek said on Twitter the reforms would ensure stability, adding: “No more coalition governments that led to crises in 1970s and 1990s.”

The bill would create an executive presidency for the first time in modern Turkey and give the president the power to appoint and fire ministers.

In addition, the post of prime minister will be abolished for the first time in the country’s history and replaced by a vice president, or perhaps several.

The debates have been fractious and the assembly has witnessed some of the worst fighting in years including clashes on Thursday after an independent MP, Aylin Nazliaka, handcuffed herself to the microphone on the platform.

The bill would allow parliamentary elections and presidential ballots to be held at the same time, with the draft giving November 3, 2019 as the poll date.

Mr Yildirim said the changes would allow for a “sole power that would be strong”, meaning a more decisive approach to solving problems.

“There would be no weakness in fighting terror [or] ... on economic issues,” Mr Yildirim said.

The proposed changes would also widen the scope of conditions in which the president can declare an emergency and would allow for a period of six months initially, up from the previous 12 weeks.

Turkey has been under a state of emergency for almost six months following the July 15 failed coup that tried to overthrow Mr Erdogan.

It was extended earlier this month meaning that campaigning for the referendum will take place under the emergency, raising concerns among human rights groups.

The debate takes place during a tense period after a bloody 2016 which saw multiple terror attacks by Kurdish militants and ISIL.

On Saturday, an assailant opened fire on a police car in Istanbul, just hours after two rocket attacks against the police and Turkey’s ruling party offices.

No one was killed or injured, and no group claimed responsibility.

*Agence France-Presse