| AA photo |
Lawmakers on Jan. 15 adopted the last article of a constitutional reform package that allows a partisan president, unlike current Turkish Constitution.
A total of 481 of 550 deputies participated the secret ballot session on the Article 18 on Jan. 15 night at Parliament’s General Assembly.
The changes were approved by a total of 344 votes. The motion was rejected by 131 MPs, two voted blank, three were invalid and one abstained.
According to the Article 18, the provision that president has to break off ties with his or her party, will be changed when the new motion goes into effect.
Earlier on Jan. 15, Turkish lawmakers adopted Article 17 of the new constitutional reform package which regulates parliamentary and presidential elections.
The second round of voting on the historic constitutional reform package is planned to take place on Jan. 18 after the first round completed on Jan. 15. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) aims to approve 6 articles per day in the second round of the voting and finish it by Jan. 21.
The AK Party plans to have a referendum on constitutional changes on March 26 or at the latest on April 16.
Lawmakers have so far passed regulations that define and lay out parliament’s responsibilities — one of the most discussed items — and the regulation of criminal liabilities for the president and top officials, as well as structural reforms to the nation’s highest judicial body.