Parliamentary system discussions closed indefinitely, Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday promised to introduce a new “civilian” constitution, Anadolu Agency reports.

 

“We will work together to bring a civilian constitution to Turkey,” Erdogan said after a Cabinet meeting, which lasted more than eight hours, in the capital Ankara.

 

“We want to follow our journey in the second century of our republic under the guidance of a civilian, liberal, encompassing constitution that will be embraced by all segments,” he stressed, underlying the importance of leaving behind the current constitution shaped by the military junta after the 1980 coup.

 

Erdogan also hailed the presidential system, saying: “Our nation rejected the proposals to return to the old system with its will in elections on May 14 and May 28. The parliamentary system discussions were closed indefinitely.”

 

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

 

Before the national elections, the opposition vowed to return to the parliamentary system if it had won the votes.