Turkish opposition party leader criticizes presidential system

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's opposition Good (IYI) Party leader said on Wednesday her party will win in the next elections, adding that the country can no longer carry the presidential system.

"Our nation, at the first (chance at the) ballot box, will teach a very heavy lesson to the owners of this crooked order. This is very clear," Meral Aksener, leader of the Good (IYI) Party, told her party's parliamentary group.

"Turkey cannot carry this freakish (presidential) system any longer."

Turkey adopted its executive presidential system of government in 2017 after a public referendum, and put it into practice a year later.

Turkish officials have touted the benefits of the new system, saying it eliminates inefficiencies and enables the smoother working of the administration.

Aksener added that Turkey will go to the polls "sooner or later," predicting that the IYI Party will win.

“Our nation will give (us) the authority, and the sun will rise again for the country. We are ready. We are ready with our staff and our projects," she added.

The country’s next general elections will be held in June 2023, according to the Constitution.