News

PM calls for presidential system based on separation of powers

Nov 11 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Todays Zaman

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu called on Tuesday for the introduction of an executive presidential system based on a balanced separation of powers, saying the current system created tensions between the president and prime minister.

In a live interview with state broadcaster Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), Davutoğlu said the government could discuss a new constitution and the "fight against terrorism" with opposition parties.

HDP to continue with Demirtaş and Yüksekdağ as co-chairs

Nov 11 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Todays Zaman

The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) will hold its ordinary congress on Jan. 17, 2016, when delegates will vote for a single list of party administrators in which present Co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ will be the only candidates for chairpersons of the party, a daily reported on Tuesday.

According to a story in Milliyet, Demirtaş and Yüksekdağ will continue to serve as co-chairs despite a loss of nearly 1 million votes in the Nov. 1 snap election.

HDP ready to discuss freedom-based constitution but not presidential system

Nov 08 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet

The Kurdish-question focused Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has announced its readiness to discuss replacing the current constitution with a new pro-freedom charter, but has categorically rejected changing Turkey’s administrative system to a presidential one in line with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ambitions. 

Mismatches had no bearing on Turkey’s final election result: Vote and Beyond

Nov 06 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet

The independent election monitoring initiative Vote and Beyond has said the minor incompliances between its own reports and the official results of the Nov. 1 election had no bearing on the final outcome.

Vote and Beyond, a civil organization of around 60,000 volunteers, said in a written statement on Nov. 3 that the 10,000-vote discrepancy between the official results of the election and its own reports were ultimately inconsequential.

CHP dismisses calls for extraordinary convention, MHP leader brushes aside calls for resignation

Nov 05 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet

The Republican People’s Party (CHP) has dismissed calls for an extraordinary party convention, while the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has defiantly stood behind his recent policies despite being blamed for the party’s disappointing showing in the Nov.

PKK ends unilateral cease-fire, policeman killed in Silvan

Nov 05 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Todays Zaman

The Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), an umbrella group that encompasses the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), has announced that it ended the unilateral cease-fire it declared ahead of the Nov. 1 repeat election, amid already escalating tension in predominantly Kurdish region, with a police officer killed during clashes with PKK terrorists in the Silvan district of Diyarbakır province on Thursday.

Erdoğan’s spokesman: Turkey may hold referendum on executive presidency

Nov 04 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Todays Zaman

Turkey may hold a referendum on changing the constitution to create an executive presidential system and discussions on the issue will accelerate in the period ahead, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's spokesman said on Wednesday.

İbrahim Kalın was speaking three days after the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) clawed back a majority in a general election, a triumph for Erdoğan, whose ambition for stronger presidential powers rests on the AK Party controlling parliament.

AKP drafts timeline to form gov’t in late Nov

Nov 04 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet

The Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has returned to power as a single-party government just five months after losing its majority in June, has drafted a timeline for its next steps - taking the upcoming G20 summit in southern Turkey into consideration.

Accordingly, members of new parliament will take their oath on Nov. 17, after the Supreme Election Board (YSK) announces the final official results of the Nov. 1 snap election on Nov. 12. Deputies will be therefore be taking their oaths after Turkey hosts the G20 leaders’ meeting in Antalya on Nov. 15-16.

Erdoğan, AK Party revive pursuit of presidential system switch

Nov 04 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Todays Zaman

After the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) won an unexpected landslide in the general election on Sunday, the issue of a transition to a presidential system is being touted by government officials once again amid rumors that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is looking to pressure the ruling party to opt for a switch.

Turkey completes electoral cycle, political risks persist

Nov 03 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet

The outcome of Turkey’s general election on Nov. 1, which saw the Justice and Development Party (AKP) regain its parliamentary majority, follows a period of heightened political uncertainty that will not necessarily come to an end, international credit rating company Fitch Ratings has stated.

“The implications for Turkey’s sovereign credit profile and rating will depend on whether the result produces a more stable and predictable political environment that is conducive to structural reform and economic rebalancing,” Fitch said in its report on the results of the Nov. 1 election.

White House hits Turkey over vote 'intimidation'

Nov 03 2015
Turkey
Source: 
Hurriyet

The White House on Nov 2 voiced displeasure at the "intimidation" of Turkish journalists during an election that bolstered the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Just weeks before President Barack Obama meets his counterpart Erdoğan in Turkey, spokesman Josh Earnest said the White House was "deeply concerned that media outlets and individual journalists critical of the government were subject to pressure and intimidation during the campaign."  

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