Turkey mulls fixing president’s term at 7 yearsDecember 14, 2011 - 13:12 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - In a move to end discussions over the length of President Abdullah Gül’s mandate, the ruling party proposed legal action to fix the current president’s term in office at seven years. “The president has been elected for a seven-year term according to laws at that time. His mandate can neither be shortened nor extended. In order to put everything back on the right track, a provisional article defining Gül’s term at seven years could be inserted to the relevant law,” Mustafa Elitaş, Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy chairman told reporters yesterday. Gül’s mandate has been a matter of discussion after a constitutional amendment reduced presidential term of office to five years with a right to be re-elected through popular vote. Elitaş has become the first official to voice the need of a legal move to end discussions on Gül’s term. Deputy Prime Ministers Bülent Arınç and Bekir Bozdağ said Gül was elected for a seven-year term. Many have speculated the government left Gül’s mandate bleak on purpose so Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan could run for the post. If Parliament endorses such a move, Gül will remain in his position until Aug. 28, 2014, Hurriyet Daily News reported. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |