Bid to boost Erdogan ‘power’ to parliament

Proposal for reform

ANKARA, Dec 1, (Agencies): A bill expanding Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s power will be submitted to parliament next week, just months after he survived a coup attempt that led to a massive crackdown on his opponents.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), co-founded by Erdogan, proposes to change Turkey’s parliamentary system to create an executive-style presidency, like that of the United States or France.

“We will submit our proposal for constitutional reform to the Turkish national assembly next week,” Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told journalists in Ankara on Thursday, without giving a precise date.

Turkey is still reeling from the failed July coup blamed on US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen that has been followed by a relentless purge of his alleged supporters from all state institutions.

Gulen denies the accusations and the United States has so far rejected Turkish calls for his extradition.

Yildirim said the constitutional changes would be put to the people in a referendum in the early summer if “everything goes well” and it is approved by parliament. Erdogan became Muslim-majority Turkey’s first directly elected president in August 2014, having been prime minister since 2003.

During his time as president, he has dramatically transformed what was usually a more ceremonial post, concentrating powers in what opponents have said is a violation of the existing constitution.

Although Erdogan rallied for the Islamist-leaning AKP during the last elections in November 2015, the constitution does not allow the president to be tied to a party.

Erdogan

Harder

But Yildirim suggested the new constitution — aimed at replacing the basic law drawn up by the then junta after the 1980 coup — would allow Erdogan to maintain party links.

Officials often say the bill would legalise what has become a de facto situation while Yildirim said it would provide for “Turkey’s stability”.

But critics fear that an even more powerful president will crack down harder on the opposition and critical media outlets.

Since the attempted putsch during which a rogue military faction tried to oust Erdogan, over 100,000 people have been detained, dismissed or suspended from the judiciary, military, police, media and the education sector.

The Turkish currency headed lower after Yildirim’s comments, heading towards 3.5 lira to the US dollar, raising concerns that the constitutional changes will create more instability for the already fragile economy.

The changes to the constitution require 330 votes, or two thirds of the 550-seat assembly, to be put to a public vote.

While a so-called super-majority of 367 votes is needed to approve the changes without public consultation, the government has repeatedly said it would hold a referendum even if it has the required support in parliament.

The AKP currently commands 317 seats in the house, including the speaker Ismail Kahraman.

To make up its shortfall, it has been chasing the support of the fourth-largest Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which has 40 MPs.

Turkey may hold referendum on constitutional change including a more powerful executive presidency at start of summer next year, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Thursday.

Speaking at a joint press conference with nationalist opposition leader Devlet Bahceli, Yildirim said the ruling AK Party was planning to present to parliament its constitutional change proposal next week. He added that the changes will allow the president to retain ties with his political party.

Erdogan has long sought constitutional change to strengthen what had been in the past a largely ceremonial position. To achieve the majority needed in parliament to trigger a referendum on the issue, the AKP needs the support of nationalist MHP.

Turkey has detained an executive from a major business conglomerate under a probe into supporters of the Muslim cleric blamed for July’s failed coup, state media reported Thursday.

Barbaros Muratoglu, of Dogan Holding, was held in connection with the investigation into followers of preacher Fethullah Gulen.

State news agency Anadolu said Muratoglu is accused of conducting media activities for a “terrorist organisation” (FETO) and being a “FETO member in this way”. FETO is how Turkey refers to “Fethullah Terror Organisation”. The company responded by issuing a statement that said the claims amounted to “slander” and “distortion”.

Muratoglu was held at 6am (0300 GMT) in Ankara and taken to Istanbul, Hurriyet daily, which itself is owned by Dogan Holding, reported.

Turkey accuses Gulen — currently in self-imposed exile in the United States — of masterminding the July 15 attempt to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government. Gulen denies the charges.

Dogan Holding is one of Turkey’s biggest conglomerates with interests in retail, energy, tourism and media including Hurriyet and the Posta daily, Dogan news agency and broadcaster CNN Turk.

The Dogan news agency carried a statement from its parent group denying that the company or Muratoglu, its Ankara representative, had links to Gulen or his movement.

Israel’s new ambassador to Turkey arrived in the capital Ankara on Thursday, an Israeli embassy official said, to serve as the first official envoy since a six-year spat put diplomatic relations on ice.

Eitan Naeh arrived in the morning, the official, who did not wish to be named, told AFP. Naeh is due to present his letter of credence to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the next few days.

Naeh, who had been serving as deputy head of mission at the Israeli embassy in London, was chosen as ambassador earlier this month by a government committee.

A career diplomat, he previously worked at the embassy in Ankara from 1993 to 1997.

Naeh is the country’s first envoy since Israeli commandos raided a Gaza-bound ship of activists in 2010.