After the Turkish Parliament voted in favor of the constitutional reform bill on Saturday, February 21, it was announced that a referendum will be held in the upcoming spring for the full approval of these reforms. According to the French news agency, the proposed changes to the constitution eliminate the role of the Prime Minister and introduce a presidential system that, according to critics, weakens effective oversight of the President. Under the new bill, for the first time in the modern history of Turkey, the President will also be able to personally appoint or dismiss ministers. These changes could potentially allow the current President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to remain in power until 2029. The new Turkish constitutional bill, which has 18 articles, was approved on Saturday with 339 votes in favor and 142 against. Mr. Erdoğan announced on Saturday during a speech in Istanbul the start of his campaign to pass these changes through a referendum in April, asking the public to vote positively for these reforms that significantly increase his power. According to the French news agency, the Turkish government claims that the new constitutional reforms will bring simpler and more effective leadership to the country, but critics argue that these changes could lead the country towards a 'one-man rule.' Binali Yıldırım, the Prime Minister of Turkey, defended these changes by saying that the new regulations create 'a single and strong power' and that this way 'we will no longer be weak in fighting terrorism ... and economic problems.' The announced reforms also allow the President to declare a state of emergency in the country for six months; the period that the President is currently legally permitted to declare is 12 weeks. Turkey has been under a state of emergency for six months since the failed coup in July, and this state was extended again earlier this month. This means that the campaign for the constitutional referendum will take place during the state of emergency, raising concerns among human rights groups. Metin Feyzioğlu, the head of the Turkish Bar Association, criticized these changes on Saturday, stating that Erdoğan's proposed reforms 'return Turkey to the Ottoman era' and 'the era of monarchy.'
Turkish Parliament Votes in Favor of Bill to Increase Presidential Powers
The Turkish Parliament has approved a constitutional reform bill that increases presidential powers, allowing President Erdoğan to appoint ministers and potentially extend his rule until 2029. A referendum will be held in April to finalize these changes, which critics warn could lead to a one-man rule and raise concerns about human rights during the ongoing state of emergency.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Turkish Parliament approved a constitutional reform bill that significantly increases presidential powers, allowing Erdoğan to appoint ministers and potentially extend his rule until 2029. A referendum is set for April to finalize these changes amidst concerns over human rights and governance.
- The bill was approved with 339 votes in favor and 142 against.
- The reforms allow the President to declare a state of emergency for six months.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Turkey has been transitioning towards a more presidential system under Erdoğan, which critics argue undermines democratic checks and balances. The ongoing state of emergency has further complicated the political landscape.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%