Constitutional reform in Turkey: the President takes it all

On 21 January 2017, the Turkish parliament passed a package of controversial constitutional amendments. After their expected approval in a national referendum, which is scheduled for April, the parliamentary constitution currently in place will be changed to a presidential system. In this new order, the President will receive full executive power, and the competencies of parliament, the judiciary and the institutions of control will be seriously reduced.

This constitutional reform is intended to be the culmination of many years of attempts by the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP), and its leader and incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to reform the structures of the state. Tension should be expected both during the campaign ahead of the referendum, and in connection with the future implementation of the constitutional amendments.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Turkish constitutional referendum, 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkish-constitutional-referendum-2017/

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