Turkish president approves constitutional change bill

By Mumin Altas

ANKARA (AA) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan approved on Friday a bill which sets the date for a referendum on widespread changes to the country’s constitution.

The bill will be sent to the prime ministry to be published in the country’s Official Gazette, setting the date for a vote.

A referendum is expected to be held on April 16, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Thursday.

Constitutional reform has been discussed since Erdogan was voted in as president in August 2014.

The 18-article bill was passed by parliament in January, with 339 votes in favor -- nine more than needed to put the proposals to a referendum.

If passed, the proposals would hand wide-ranging executive powers to the president, such as the power to appoint ministers and greater control over the judiciary.

The post of prime minister would be abolished and the president allowed to retain ties to a political party.

Parliament’s power to question ministers or stage a confidence vote in the government would be removed.

The minimum age for parliamentary candidates would be reduced to 18 and the number of lawmakers will rise to 600.

Simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections for a five-year term would be held in November 2019.