Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has submitted to parliament a bill granting extended powers to the presidency and abolishing the prime ministry, among other major changes.
The 21-article constitutional change, if adopted, would take Turkey away from its current parliamentary system, and introduce an executive presidency, a move that worry critics of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Saturday’s proposed constitutional changes are expected to be discussed at the relevant parliamentary commission first, before the bill is brought to a parliamentary hearing and if passed there, put to a referendum. Government officials have pointed at the spring of 2017 for a possible referendum.
Erdogan became Turkey's first president to be elected by popular vote in 2014, after serving three terms as prime minister.
He said numerous times that the popular vote had transformed his presidency compared to the past presidencies, which were seen as largely ceremonial.
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