Deputy PM: People more prone to accepting presidential system
Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç recently clarified statements regarding a possible presidential system, which is one of the most discussed topics on Ankara's agenda. Arınç said that the current system is not sustainable and is prone to various problems, and added: "In order to shift to a presidential system in Turkey, a new constitution must be created."Following the U.N. Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva, Arınç answered questions exclusively to Daily Sabah regarding Turkey's current agenda. In regard to Turkey's possible shift to a presidential system, Arınç emphasized: "Without a new constitution, such a shift to a semi-presidential or presidential system is not likely." Arınç also added that if there is no modification to the existing Constitution, the current system is also not sustainable and is prone to possible issues."At present, there is a president who has been elected by the Turkish nation, however the president's authority is outlined by Parliament. This may not result in enormous problems, but it may create a two-headed government, as they belong to two different systems. If there is going to be a presidential or semi-presidential system, then the existing Constitution must involve all necessary elements related to it, and if the public embraces this, then a new system with a newly formed constitution must come into effect. All of this can be achieved with a simple referendum. If the public does not want a presidential system then solely the Constitution must be modified. If not, such a two-headed government and/or this unsystematic sequence within Turkey will ways damage relations between the president and the ruling government in office or any other institutions," Arınç claimed.Arınç continued regarding the discussions of a presidential system saying that a shift toward a presidential system has been on the agenda since 2011 and that since the beginning of the discussions the main opposition parties have remained judgmental and denied all possible suggestions. He said that "the fear of the main opposition parties is due to a leader like [President] Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, becoming more powerful and a more determined leader than he is now." "They are not approaching the situation in the framework of democracy or a regime or a way of governing. Since the very beginning we have been saying that just like the parliamentary system, a semi-presidential or presidential system is also a type of a democratic regime. The most important concept is which system is more suitable to govern Turkey," he added.Arınç further stressed that the population is more prone to accepting a presidential system. He said: "It is very possible to say that within the mindset of our citizens and their political system, they are more prone to accepting strong leaders or presidents. If we are able to present a presidential system to the public and gain their support, then I believe it would be a very successful way of governing."
Last Update: January 30, 2015 23:57