Pres. system up for debate in Jan.: AK Party official

ANKARA (AA) – The deputy chairman of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party said Wednesday that his party's proposal for a presidential system may be debated by the full parliament.

"I believe it will be debated by parliament's general assembly in January", Hayati Yazici told news channel NTV.

Yazici said budget talks will be held in November and December so the proposal can be debated in January.

"If parliament approves it in January with more than 330 votes, it has to go to referendum,” he said. “The president's office has time to publish it, where it can stay for 15 days. Then there will be a referendum. Additionally the Supreme Board of Elections [YSK] will do all its work within 40-60 days. So considering all this time, it [the referendum] could be held in April”.

Changing the Constitution, in particular the call for a presidential system, has been discussed since Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the former prime minister and AK Party leader, was elected Turkey's president in August 2014.

That election was the first time a Turkish president, whose role is currently defined as being largely symbolic, was directly chosen by popular vote.

Changing to a presidential system is opposed by Turkey’s three other parliamentary parties, and the AK Party lacks the super-majority in parliament needed to make the change without submitting it to a referendum.

On Saturday Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Saturday that stability can become "permanent" if Turkey adopts a presidential system.

He said a presidential system is needed for lasting stability, growth and development, strong government, national unity, and brotherhood.