'Party leader cannot represent unity of Turkish state'

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - The leader of Turkey's main opposition party said on Tuesday that a party leader serving as president cannot represent the unity of the nation.

Speaking to his party's lawmakers, Republican People's Party's (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said the Turkish people want the president to be impartial.

"If you don't believe me, let's hold a referendum. Be sure that an absolute majority [of the Turkish people] will want the president to be impartial," Kilicdaroglu told his Republican People's Party's (CHP) parliamentary group.

He added: "A party leader cannot represent the unity of state."

Kilicdaroglu said sections in the Constitution on presidential impartiality must be amended.

"Bring these amendments! We will change it," he stressed.

In April 2017, Turkish voters voted to switch Turkey from a parliamentary system to an executive presidential system of governance.

The CHP campaigned against the changes.