
The Party of Justice and Development ruling in Turkey introduces a draft amendments to the current constitution of the country, which will expand the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, BBC reports . In the case of amendments, Türkiye will become a presidential republic
Erdogan announced the need for such a reform two years ago, shortly after his election by the president. Supporters of changes in the constitution say that this will simplify the system of government. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yyldyrym said that amendments to the Constitution would save the country from attempts by a coup.
Erdogan himself announced that if the parliament approves changes to the Constitution, this issue will be submitted to the referendum in 2017.
Opponents of this initiative say that a change in the constitution will lead to the fact that all the reign brothers will be in the hands of one person. They refer to mass arrests that took place after the July Revolution of the July Reverse as an example of the fact that this can mean in practice.
After the suppression of the military coup attempt in July this year, mass repressions began in Turkey. At the end of October, the Minister of Justice of the country Bekir Bozdag stated that about 35 thousand people were arrested on suspicions of relations with the preacher in the United States as a preacher. Erdogan seeks the return of the death penalty in the country for reprisals with the coup participants.
On November 4 , 12 deputies of the Milli Majlis from the Democratic Party of Peoples, which protect the rights of national minorities of the country, including Kurdish, were detained in Turkey. The eight detainees, including the leaders of the Selahattin Party Demirtash and Figen Yuksekdag, were arrested. Deputies are charged with relations with the Kurdistan working party, which is recognized in the country with a terrorist organization.
On November 13, the speaker of the European Parliament Martin Schulz said that the European Union should impose economic sanctions against Turkey in connection with the arrests of opposition politicians and journalists. Schulz also assured that he was advocating for the continuation of dialogue with Turkey regarding this country's entry into the EU. However, he emphasized, "if Türkiye returns the death penalty, negotiations on entry will end."