Constitutional Referendum in Turkey: Presidential or Parliamentary System

The people of Turkey will vote in a referendum on constitutional changes on Sunday. If the people vote in favor, the President will have extensive powers in the country. The referendum concerns 18 amendments to the constitution that would transform the parliamentary system into a presidential system. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his supporters claim that the presidential system will bring stability and wealth to Turkey, while opponents believe such a system could lead to autocracy and tyranny. If the proponents of the constitutional change win, Erdoğan will have the opportunity to remain in the presidency until 2029. According to the Associated Press, Erdoğan, who cast his vote in Istanbul on Sunday, described the referendum as an opportunity for 'change and transformation.' The Turkish President stated, 'We must make a decision that goes beyond ordinary decisions.' Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the Republican People's Party and an opponent of the constitutional change, stated that this referendum is crucial for Turkey. Kılıçdaroğlu said, 'We hope for good results and that together we can have an opportunity to discuss other fundamental issues of Turkey.' Polling stations in eastern Turkey opened at 7 AM local time and will continue until 4 PM. In more populated areas, voting started at 8 AM and will end at 5 PM. It is expected that 80% of eligible voters will participate in this election. This referendum is taking place while Erdoğan has managed to overcome the coup attempt in July of last year; since then, nearly 100,000 people, including judges, lawyers, teachers, academics, doctors, journalists, military personnel, and police forces, have been dismissed from their jobs on charges of supporting the coup plotters. Additionally, 40,000 people have been detained during this period. Hundreds of media outlets, newspapers, and NGOs have also been shut down in the country. Conflicts with Kurdish militants and terrorist attacks in Turkish cities are other issues the country has faced in recent months.