Erdogan Calls for New Turkey Constitution after AKP Win
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called for a new constitution after his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) weekend triumph at the ballot box.
"Solving the issue of a new constitution was one of the most important messages of November 1," he said in a televised speech in Ankara.
Erdogan, the strongman of Turkish politics for more than a decade, has long been pushing for a new constitution to replace a military-drafted charter and expand the powers of the presidency.
Earlier Wednesday, his spokesman said Turkey was considering holding a referendum on changing from a parliamentary to a presidential system.
But opponents fear it would put too much power in the hands of a leader they already consider too authoritarian.
Erdogan called on all political parties to work on new civilian constitution that would replace the 1980 charter drafted by the military after a coup.
"I hope they will sit down at the table and solve this issue," he said, adding that he had discussed it at a meeting with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Tuesday.
04 November 2015, 17:17
01
have you studied the proposed amendments before making your statement? The USA is a presidential democracy and the president has extreme executive powers. Does that make him a Caliphate..!
04 November 2015, 18:35
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Texas have you even read them? They are no different than any other presidential democracy
04 November 2015, 18:37
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Besides the current constitution was drafted by the military. He is calling for lawmakers, elected officials, to draft one.
04 November 2015, 20:45
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turkey just got a new dear leader, for life.
he will pass the power to his son, and his grandson.
this is the type of democracy the islamists all want to have, but most can only ever dream.
