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| The Grand Turk |
| Turkey to revive plans to strengthen Erdogan’s office, PM says |
| 2016-10-13 |
| [ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The Turkish government will soon restart efforts to change the constitution and expand presidential powers, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday, reviving the controversial plan after an opposition leader signalled his support. President Tayyip Erdogan, who has ruled ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... since 2003, has pushed for a new constitution with an executive presidency at its centre that places him firmly in charge. Some opinion polls in the past have shown a majority oppose the change. However, the way to a man's heart remains through his stomach... Erdogan has consolidated both his power and popularity since an abortive coup failed to oust him on July 15. Some 240 government loyalists and 100 rogue troops were killed in the spasm of violence. A state of emergency imposed in July to root out plotters from the security and civil services has allowed the government to rule by decree. "Turkey must give the de facto situation a legal status," Yildirim, a loyalist whom Erdogan appointed to the job in May, told members of the ruling AK Party in comments aired live. The system will help state institutions work more harmoniously and ensure political stability is lasting, he said. Turkey's most popular leader in 80 years, Erdogan was elected to the top post in 2014 after serving three times as prime minister. The current charter describes the office as largely ceremonial. |
| Posted by:Fred |