Turkey issued a decree on Wednesday transferring some powers to the president, in line with its move to an executive presidential system resulting from last month’s presidential and parliamentary elections.
The decree, issued in the official gazette, makes changes to laws dating from 1924 to 2017, altering references to the prime minister and cabinet of ministers to the president and the president’s office.
In a referendum last year, Turks voted by a narrow majority to move to a powerful executive presidency. The political change is being ushered in after President Tayyip Erdogan’s triumph in the June 24 elections.
The office of prime minister is to be abolished and Erdogan will be able to form and regulate ministries and remove civil servants, all without parliamentary approval.
The government has been issuing decrees, bypassing parliament, since a state of emergency imposed following an attempted military coup in July 2016. Erdogan has promised to lift emergency rule after the election.
The changes in the latest decree will take effect when Erdogan takes the oath of office, expected in parliament on July 8 or 9.
-
Smuggler accused of killing 17, after fooling victims into Turkey escape
Residents of the Syrian town of Darkush, northwest of Idlib along the Syrian-Turkish borders, found the bodies of civilians who were shot dead on ... Middle East -
Turkey orders dozens of colonels arrested in Gulen
Turkey ordered the detention of 68 suspects, including dozens of colonels, in an operation targeting alleged supporters of the US-based Islamic cleric ... World News -
Turkey frees prominent journalist from jail pending appeal
A Turkish court has released a newspaper columnist and academic from prison, pending an appeal of his conviction and life sentence for alleged ... Print