Turkey’s AKP push for executive presidency invalid: Opposition leader
A Turkish opposition leader has criticized as null and void efforts by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to introduce an executive presidency.
Devlet Bahceli, the chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), made the remarks at his party's weekly meeting in the parliament in Ankara on Tuesday.
"The theory that the presidential system is a natural reflection of a national expectation is invalid and an exaggerated evaluation for us," Bahceli said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the AKP founder, has been in favor of a presidential system to replace the current parliamentary one, arguing that the country cannot be run by two strongmen.
Last week, Erdogan called for a national referendum to be held on the issue.
This is while any change in Turkey’s ruling system requires a constitutional amendment, which itself needs popular approval.
Elsewhere in his comments, Bahceli ruled out speculations that he could back a new constitution to change the political system.
"Creating an election atmosphere and indicating polls just 6 months after the previous November 1 parliamentary election is treason and a murder of democracy," he said.
On May 5, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced his decision to step down after 20 months in office. The resignation exposed a rift between Erdogan and Davutoglu over the president’s attempts to expand his power.
The AKP will hold an extraordinary party congress on May 22 to elect Davutoglu’s successor.
In comments broadcast live, AKP Deputy Chairman Nurettin Canikli told the NTV news channel on Tuesday that a proposal would be made allowing the president to retain affiliation to a political party as part of a transition to a full presidential system.
"We want the presidential system with all its institutions to be set up in (a new) constitution. But this could be a model for the transition period," Canikli said.
The politician also noted that his party planned to present the initiative to the Turkish parliament by mid-June.
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