Turkish President to be elected by popular vote

PanARMENIAN.Net - With 69.4% of votes 'for' and 30.5% 'against', Turks have backed the constitutional reforms. The appearance made 64.8%, AFP reported quoting the Turkish Supreme Election Committee.



The law on "Making Amendments in Some Articles of the Republic of Turkey's Constitution," envisaging the election of the president directly by the people instead of Parliament, will give rise to major changes in the Turkish political system. The law will decrease the seven-year term of the president to five years and allow a president to be elected twice, while stipulating the holding of general elections every four years instead of the current five and decreasing the quorum required to hold a parliamentary session to 184. This last article provides a very clear answer to the Constitutional Court's condition of a 367-member quorum.



Meanwhile, critics say the reform will complicate the work of state bodies, Lenta.ru reports.