Presidential system in Turkey to end in despotism: Nationalists
Nationalists in Turkey have criticized ongoing efforts in the government and parliament for establishing a presidential system in the country, saying the move could lead Turkey to despotism.
The veteran leader of Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli, said on Tuesday that he was strongly opposed to the ruling AK Party’s proposed changes in Turkey’s constitution to introduce an executive presidential system.
Bahceli, who was speaking in the Turkish parliament, said either a presidential system or a system in which the head of state would allowed to retain his party ties would lead to despotism and would be costly for the country in the long term.
Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan, AKP’s main figure, has been pushing hard for setting up his desired presidential system in Turkey despite fierce criticism both within the AKP and in the opposition parties. Erdogan has hoped for support from the MHP, a party embroiled in leadership battle after several hundred of its members launched a bid to oust Bahceli, its leader for much of the last two decades.
Bahceli had earlier dismissed as null and void efforts by AKP to introduce an executive presidency, saying, “The theory that the presidential system is a natural reflection of a national expectation is invalid and an exaggerated evaluation for us.”
The drive for the presidency has also affected the relations between members of the AKP as former prime minister and long-time Erdogan ally Ahmet Davutoglu was reportedly forced to resign from his post earlier this month after rifts between him and Erdogan began to surface in the media.
Erdogan has repeatedly called for a national referendum to be held on the controversial issue as any change in Turkey’s ruling system requires a constitutional amendment, which itself needs popular approval.
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