Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV

AK Party, MHP agree on new constitution, propose presidential system for dynamic governance

by Daily Sabah

ISTANBUL Dec 01, 2016 - 12:00 am GMT+3
 AA Photo
| AA Photo
by Daily Sabah Dec 01, 2016 12:00 am

The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have finalized negotiations on proposed amendments to the constitution, which include changing the current parliamentary system to a presidential system, in an effort to establish more effective and dynamic governance.

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım and MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli held a press conference at the Çankaya Prime Ministerial Office in Ankara yesterday, during which Yıldırım said the proposed draft constitution will be submitted to Parliament next week.

Bahçeli said both parties put in extensive effort during negotiation talks on the draft constitution and that a positive result has been achieved after meeting with the prime minister yesterday.

"The constitutional changes have been on our people's agenda. The negotiations with the MHP have reached a mature stage. We will be submitting the draft proposal to Parliament next week. Of course, after that it is Parliament's decision. The number of votes necessary is 330 so that it can be taken to the people in a referendum and the referendum process is the decision people will make," Yıldırım said, adding that the aim is to not waste anymore of people's time with the issue of the system change.

According to the new proposed draft constitution, the president will be able to continue with a party affiliation, which is one of the most significant changes to the presidential system, while in the current constitution the president is not allowed to continue their party affiliation and should have a non-partisan stance.

The AK Party has argued that the current presidential system, in which the people choose the president through elections, is not suitable for the current constitution, and through the new amendments, the presidential role and responsibilities will be better defined. Prime Minister Yıldırım added that, as a result of the new definition of the president, more effective political stability and trust will be established in Turkey's future.

Yıldırım added that the final draft that will be submitted to the government will be the final outline that both parties have agreed upon. After the draft is presented to Parliament, a referendum will be held for the public to make the final decision if a total of 330 votes or higher is reached. Parliament is expected to debate the amendments early next year and the referendum may be held in April.

According to the Turkish constitution, constitutional changes can be directly passed only if it is approved by two-thirds of the deputies in Parliament, which corresponds to 367 of the 550 parliamentarians. Currently, the AK Party has 317 seats in Parliament, while the MHP has 40; meaning the two parties do not hold enough seats in Parliament to pass the proposal directly. In spite of this, if the proposal receives between 330 and 366 votes, the proposed constitutional change can be brought to a referendum.

Responding to whether there will be early elections, Yıldırım said the next elections will be held in 2019, as planned. As a result, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is also expected to remain in position until 2019, despite changes to the system.

With the new governing system, non-parliamentarians may be appointed as ministers and will not need a vote of confidence as they will be appointed by the president.

  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Dec 01, 2016 6:39 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    homepage
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    Party like it's 522: 1,500-year-old feast mosaic found in Turkey
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021