Turkey's referendum to not change our republic: PM

By Fikriye Susam Uyar and Hatice Senses Kurukiz

EDIRNE, Turkey (AA) - Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said the April 16 referendum is about changing the system of government, not about the republic.

Addressing the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party’s rally in western Edirne province Thursday, Yildirim said Turkey would remain a republic even after the referendum.

"Together we founded it [the republic], together we are keeping it alive, and will continue to keep it alive," he said.

The premier said the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, had targeted the republic and the parliament.

"Whoever tries to change the regime or the republic will see people turn against them, there is no doubt about this," he said.

The prime minister said Turkey’s current parliamentary system had at times created problems.

"In the current system, both president and prime minister are powerful. Normally, in parliamentary systems, prime ministers are powerful and presidents are symbolic," he said.

Yildirim said the current "two-heads" system in Turkey had created problems.

"This two-heads system wastes time, delays solutions of problems and slows down development...The current system cannot keep up with Turkey's growth," he added.

The proposed constitutional changes have been discussed since Recep Tayyip Erdogan was voted president in August 2014. The 18-article bill was passed by the parliament in January, with 339 votes in favor -- nine more than needed to put the proposal to a referendum.

The reforms would hand wide-ranging executive powers to the president, while the post of prime minister would be abolished. The president would also be allowed to retain ties to a political party.

Other changes would see the minimum age of parliamentary candidates reduced to 18 and the number of deputies rising to 600.

Also, simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections for a five-year term would be held in November 2019 under the new constitution.