Turkey’s parliament debates greater powers for Erdogan

Legislative effort to remain in power for two more terms

ANKARA // Turkey’s parliament yesterday began debating proposed constitutional amendments that would hand Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s largely ceremonial presidency greater executive powers, and the possibility of serving two more fiveyear terms. Mr Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics for 14 years, has long pushed to inject the presidency with greater political powers, arguing that strong leadership would help Turkey to grow. The main opposition party fears that if approved, the reforms would give Mr Erdogan more powers, turn the country into a de facto dictatorship and move Turkey away from democracy and its anchor in the West.

“They are trying to turn the democratic parliamentary regime into a totalitarian regime,” main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said. Debate on the set of amendments is expected to last two weeks. The reforms must clear two rounds of balloting in parliament, known as the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, gaining at least 330 of the 550 votes.

If approved by MPs, the government will submit the package to a voter referendum for final approval – possibly in the spring.

Yesterday, police used pepper spray to disperse a group of legislators, lawyers and other protesters who tried to gather near the parliament building to oppose the proposed consti- tutional changes. Some roads leading to parliament were blocked in an attempt to prevent protesters gathering.

The ruling party, founded by Mr Erdogan, is 14 votes short of the required 330, but has secured the backing of the country’s nationalist party. The changes would make the president the head of the executive branch, allow him to appoint the government, propose budgets and to declare states of emergency. They would also allow Mr Erdogan to serve another two terms, ending in 2029.

The debate comes at a difficult time for Turkey, which has been rocked by a wave of bombings, renewed conflict with Kurdish rebels in the south-east, a military offensive in Syria and a failed coup attempt last year.