Turkey's ruling AK Party is finalizing plans to formally cement President Tayyip Erdogan's powers by creation of an executive presidency and will meet the nationalist opposition to iron out details, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Tuesday.
Erdogan has long sought constitutional change to strengthen what had been in the past a largely ceremonial position.
Unrivaled in popularity, he has turned the presidency into a powerful vehicle for his ambitions, bolstered since a failed July military coup by imposition of emergency rule.
One more meeting needed
To achieve the majority needed in parliament to trigger a referendum on the issue, the AKP needs the support of the nationalist Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
“We will meet one more time with [MHP leader Devlet] Bahceli and give this [constitutional] change its final shape," Yildirim told a parliamentary meeting of his party.
Earlier, Bahceli said "significant progress" had been made in their talks and he believed the bill could be sent to the constitutional commission once "one or two" issues are overcome.
In charge until 2029?
Officials who have seen a draft of the reform told Reuters earlier this month that Erdogan could govern Turkey until 2029 under the proposal.
Erdogan's supporters argue Turkey needs a strong executive presidency, akin to the system in the United States or France, to avoid fragile coalition governments that hampered development in the past.
The country also faces threats from war across the border in Syria and Iraq and turmoil following the coup bid. Opponents fear it will bring increasing authoritarianism to a country already under fire from Western allies over its deteriorating record on rights and freedoms.
Vote could come in spring
The head of parliament's constitutional commission, AKP's Mustafa Sentop, said his party would submit the constitutional reform draft to parliament within two weeks, Dogan news agency reported.
"We will present a constitutional change for our people's approval in a referendum in the spring months," he told a university conference in northwest Turkey on Monday.
