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| The Grand Turk |
| HDP calls for referendum on Erdogan's ambition for presidential system |
| 2015-08-19 |
| [Hurriyet Daily News] Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtas has proposed a single-topic referendum to ask people about President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him... 's ambition to change the constitution and become an active president in a presidential regime. "In a possible election, we could hold a referendum to ask people a single question: Do you want a presidential system or not?" Demirtas told news hounds on Aug. 18 ahead of a party meeting during which he said they would propose a referendum. "The state regime cannot be changed with a fait accompli," he said, noting that they should change the system only if people ask for it. "We'll respect the result of [a referendum]," he added. Last week, Erdogan argued that ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... 's government had been already changed into a de facto presidential system, calling for a constitutional framework to "finalize" this transition. "You can either accept it or not. Turkey's governmental system has effectively been changed in this regard. What should be done now is to finalize the legal framework of this de facto situation with a new constitution," Erdogan said Aug. 14. Ahead of the June 7 parliamentary elections, Demirtas delivered one of the shortest speeches in Turkish parliament on March 17, saying the HDP would not let Erdogan shift the system to the strong presidential one he desired, rejecting rumors of a bargain with the ruling party. |
| Posted by:Fred |