HDP deputies say presidential system can be discussed

The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) continues to shift its tone on the government's plan to switch to a presidential regime in the wake of its "disappointment" over the election results last Sunday.

In an interview with Cumhuriyet daily on Thursday, the party's Mersin deputy Dengir Mir Mehmet Fırat and Istanbul deputy Celal Doğan said that a U.S. or Mexican type of presidential regime could be applied to Turkey and the matter can be discussed.

"A system in which the separation of powers is well-applied and checks and balances are running can be discussed. Personally, I am not against the American system," Fırat said.

In the interview, Doğan the necessity for a new constitution and said, "Any kind of system, issue and institution can be discussed." Yet, the party's Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş emphasized that he sees no reason to change their stance on the presidential system debate. "We want a strengthened democratic parliamentary system and strengthened decentralization," he said, adding Turkey's urgent need for a new constitution in his statement to press members on Thursday.