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TURKISH President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made it clear yesterday that he would push ahead with constitutional plans to allow him to rule as executive head of state.
Although the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which he founded, scored a stunning victory in Sunday’s general election, it is 13 seats short of the 330 required to call a referendum on constitutional change.
However, Mr Erdogan will likely take advantage of his weekend landslide to press other parties for a referendum on constitutional changes and to set up the new political system that he favours.
Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said that Mr Erdogan believed a presidency with sweeping powers would make Turkey jump up a league.
“What is the best model for us? Taking into consideration the results of the November 1 election, this is something that will be settled by asking the people,” he said.
“This debate cannot be considered independently from the people. If the mechanism is a referendum, then a referendum can take place.”
The president’s long sought after constitutional changes to allow him to govern unchecked worry political opponents already ill at ease over his ever more authoritarian tendencies and polarising rhetoric.
Mr Erdogan urged parliamentary parties yesterday to contribute to the writing of a new constitution, but he made no direct reference to the system he wants.
