Khaleej Times

18 amendments proposed in the referendum

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> The office of the prime minister will be abolished. The president will appoint the cabinet and an undefined number of vice-presidents. > The president will be able to issue decrees to form and regulate ministries and appoint and remove senior civil servants, all without parliament­ary approval.

> Decrees will not be allowed on issues concerning human rights or basic freedoms, or to override existing laws. Courts will decide if a decree interferes with the law.

> The president will be able to hold membership in a political party, including the leadership of a party. Currently the presidency is symbolic and above party politics. > The president will be able to declare a state of emergency and no longer require the cabinet’s approval to do so.

> The president will be able to draft the budget, currently drawn up by parliament.

> The State Supervisor­y Board (DDK), a presidenti­al institutio­n that oversees the activities of public and private bodies, will be able to open administra­tive investigat­ions, giving the president direct power over a wide range of groups, including the armed forces. > The number of members of the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutor­s (HSYK) will be cut to 13 from 22. The president will appoint four members and parliament seven.

> If the president were accused or suspected of a crime, parliament will be able to request an investigat­ion with a simple majority, and send the investigat­ion to the Constituti­onal Court with a vote of two-thirds. > The Constituti­onal Court will have the authority to try the president. Twelve of its members will be appointed by the president and three by the parliament.

> Parliament will be expanded to 600 seats from 550. The minimum age to be elected will be lowered to 18 from 25.

> Parliament­ary elections will take place every five years.

> The president will be able to dissolve parliament.

> The president will be able to serve a maximum of two fiveyear terms. If the parliament decides on early elections during the president’s second term, the incumbent will be allowed to run again.

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