Turkey prepares for 7th referendum since 1961

By Nilay Kar

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish voters head for the referendum polls on Sunday -- the seventh nationwide, single issue ballot in 56 years.

A Yes win would see Turkey’s constitution changed from a parliamentary model to a presidential system, giving the president wide-ranging powers and abolishing the office of prime minister.

Previous referendums have focused on constitutional change -- as Sunday’s does -- or the electoral system.

All but one referendum has been passed. The only one to fall at a popular vote was the September 1988 poll on holding early local elections.

The first referendum came a year after a 1960 military coup, when the electorate was asked to replace the 1924 constitution with a charter that reflected the separation of powers and detailed individual rights and freedoms.

It was passed by nearly 62 percent of votes after an 81 percent turnout.

This constitution remained in force until November 1982, when the military junta that seized power two years earlier proposed a new constitution. As with the 1961 constitution, it was produced by a committee dominated by the military.

A 91 percent vote in favor of the constitution saw civil society organizations such as trades unions barred from political activity and laid the ground for the banning of certain political parties and leaders.

The poll was combined with the election of Gen. Kenan Evren, who stood uncontested, to the presidency for seven years.

- Popular presidential vote

In a September 1987 referendum, voters narrowly allowed politicians that had been banned to return to politics.

A turnout of nearly 94 percent saw 50.2 percent of voters pass the amendment.

A year later, a referendum called for the 1989 local elections to be held a year early. It was defeated by 65 percent of votes.

This was followed in October 2007 by a referendum that paved the way for this year’s forthcoming vote by saying the president should be directly elected rather than being selected by lawmakers in parliament.

Around 69 percent voted in favor of changes that also included reducing the presidential term to five years and cutting parliament’s tenure from five years to four. There was a 67 percent turnout.

Three years later, the electorate was called on to vote on plans aimed at making Turkey’s laws more compatible with the EU.

The referendum proposed amendments to the 1982 constitution and allowed for the prosecution of the 1980 coup leaders as well as granting wider economic and social rights, judicial reform and greater individual freedoms.

It passed with 58 percent in favor.