Update: Turkish Parliament Approves Amendments to Constitution
May 8, 2007 | Printer Friendly

According to MSNBC, the Turkish parliament has passed numerous amendments to the country’s constitution in response to the gridlock over the election of a president.  The main amendment, which would change the system of electing the president from a parliamentary vote to a popular vote, “gained the support of 356 deputies, with 69 voting against.”  The Parliament also approved amendments to the constitution changing the term of the president from seven years to five, allowing the president to serve up to two terms rather than one and made the general elections every four years rather than five.  According to the report, a second round of voting on the amendments will take place May 10th because it did not secure a 2/3rd approval by parliament.    

For more CCD coverage of the events in Turkey, see:

CCD: (4/7/07) Turkish Presidential Candidate Withdraws Bid; Ruling Party Calls for General Elections and Constitutional Amendment

CCD: (4/1/07) Turkish Constitutional Court Declares Presidential Vote Invalid; Experts Believe Early Parliamentary Elections Will be Called

Reference:

MSNBC: Turkey edges closer to electing president by popular vote