Turkey to submit bill to parliament to expand Erdogan's powers

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's ruling party is to submit a bill to parliament on Saturday, December 10, expanding the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a move supporters believe will streamline the political system but opponents fear will lead to one-man rule, AFP reports.

The constitutional change, which has been sought by Erdogan since he became president in 2014, would see Turkey switch to an executive presidency along the lines of the United States or France.

But it has become the latest polarising issue surrounding the Turkish strongman, who has been accused by opponents of increasingly authoritarian rule especially after the attempted coup in July.

The drive for the change comes at a critical time for Erdogan, with the relentless crackdown after the coup straining ties with the West and the Turkish lira under severe pressure.

"Our proposal to change the constitution will be submitted to the Turkish parliament tomorrow," Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Friday.

The announcement followed months of talks between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) led by Yildirim and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

The MHP is the fourth largest party in parliament but the AKP needs its support for the 330 votes required to call a referendum on the issue.

Yildirim said the bill would "save our country" from coups after Erdogan saw off a putsch aimed at ousting him from power on July 15.

"We continue to work on changing the system to ensure instability is removed from Turkey's political history absolutely," Yildirim said.