Turkey- No turning back from presidential system says Erdoan
Date
5/7/2016 12:22:42 PM
(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) >Turkey’s PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoanhas stressed that there is no turning back from a presidential system in his address during a mass opening ceremony a day after Prime Minister Davutolu announced he would leave his post following a rift with Erdoan.
“At this point there is no turning back. Everybody should accept this by now” Erdoan said during a speech at the inauguration ceremony in Istanbul’s Eyüp district on May 6.
“I believe the new constitution will be prepared in a way that would institutionalize this new way of administration that was brought about based on the preference and approval of our people” he added arguing the period of uncertainty between the general elections of June 7 and November 1 2015 was completed “without crises” thanks to a “strong presidency.”
“Our nation knows that despite elections and changing governments there is not and will not be a vacuum in the country’s administration thanks to a directly-elected president” Erdoan added discussing his motivation for bringing up the issue of a presidential system.
Involvement with AKP ‘natural’
President also touched upon Davutolu’s May 5 announcement of an upcoming snap congress of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and his remarks that he will not compete in the race as a candidate.
“Posts like this are kind of like relay races. I took the flag of Prime Ministry from Mr. Gül [Former President and PM Abdullah Gül]. Now at the congress on May 22 the next person to be elected will receive the flag from Mr. Davutolu” he said describing this as a process rather than a crisis.
Wishing success to Davutolu’s predecessor Erdoan also slammed criticism of his involvement in the AKP’s intra-party affairs as Turkey’s president is constitutionally obliged to be bipartisan.
“Some are disturbed that I am following closely the developments inside the party that is run by my friends of 40 years which I founded and led for nearly 12 years. Why are you disturbed? What can be more natural?” he asked saying he was elected to the seat of the presidency with his identity as the leader of the AKP.
No changes in anti-terror law
Erdoan also discussed the issue of allowing Schengen-free travel toEuropefor Turkish citizens as part a deal with Brussels on curbing migration and said no deal will be made in case the EU insists onAnkaraamending its anti-terror law.
“Why don’t you change your mentality of allowing terrorist camping near the European Parliament?” he asked adding the EU is making this request at a time when Turkey is under attack from terror organizations and their offshoots.
The fate of Turkey’s visa liberalization scheme has recently emerged as an issue of concern after PM Davutolu who led the negotiations with Brussels announced his resignation on May 5.
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