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Erdogan slammed for seeking authority to dissolve parliament

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 30, 2015 10:24AM

A senior member of the Turkish opposition has criticized the president for seeking the authority to dissolve parliament, saying that such powers will turn Turkey into a dictatorship.

Akif Hamzaçebi on Thursday said the model proposed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is what would bring the democratic system of Turkey to ruins.

"This is a system uniquely designed for Erdoğan, which will drag Turkey into a dictatorship," the English website of the Hurriyet newspaper quoted Hamzaçebi as saying.

The legislator's remarks come as Erdogan on Thursday elaborated on the major benefits of introducing a presidential system in Turkey. Under such a presidential system, Erdogan said, the country could make more progress concerning rights and freedoms.

Hamzaçebi, however, said that the model proposed by Erdogan considers authority for the president that even outweigh that of the US president Barack Obama.

"The powers given to Obama are seen as insufficient [by Erdoğan]. Obama has no power to dissolve Congress, but Erdoğan wants this power," he said.

"This is called dictatorship," he said

The opposition member also cited some polls which suggest more than 80 percent of the Turkish citizens are opposed to changing from parliamentary to presidential system.

Turkey has been ruled for decades under a parliamentary system. However, for a while now, politicians in the country have been discussing the introduction of a presidential system.

Constitutional amendments or a new charter is needed before Erdogan and his party can rule Turkey under a presidential system. Erdogan said Thursday that drafting a new constitution is a must for Turkey. Realizing such an objective is high on Erdogan's agenda as Turkey draws closer to the parliamentary elections which are slated for June.

Erdogan served as Prime Minister of Turkey for 11 years before he was elected as president in 2014 during popular votes, the first instances of such votes for electing president in the country.

MS/NN