Turkey's Grand National Assembly on Monday approved the first stage of plans to reform its constitution and introduce an executive presidency, significantly increasing the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) amendment package, which looks likely to go to a binding national referendum in the spring, seeks to abolish the post of prime minister, naming the president the official head of the executive with the power to directly appoint cabinet members and senior judges.
Under the new plans, Erdoğan, who has assumed what is currently a largely ceremonial position since 2014, could potentially remain in office as president until 2029. The new constitution would mean Erdoğan would hold executive powers until the next elections in November 2019, before officially beginning the maximum two terms.
Muharrem Erkek, Çanakkale province deputy for the Republican People's Party (CHP)—the main opposition party—and a member of the constitutional committee, told Vice News: "I want to express that it is not a presidential system. It is not related to the US presidential system, which is a great example of a democratic presidential system. They [the AKP] want to change the parliamentary regime of Turkey to a 'one-man regime'. It could eventually create a dictator."
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