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Turkish reforms face final vote Turkish reforms face final vote
(about 2 hours later)
Turkey's parliament is to hold a final vote on constitutional reforms that would allow the president to be elected by the people rather than parliament.Turkey's parliament is to hold a final vote on constitutional reforms that would allow the president to be elected by the people rather than parliament.
The governing AK party introduced the reforms after its candidate for president, Abdullah Gul, failed to get elected by parliament. The governing AK party tabled the reforms after MPs failed to elect its presidential candidate, Abdullah Gul.
Turkey's secularists blocked the party's presidential bid, claiming it harbours a subversive Islamist agenda. Turkish secularists opposed Mr Gul, accusing him of an Islamist agenda.
The current president is likely to block reforms until planned elections. Our correspondent says the reforms may well be approved because of the AK's parliamentary majority - but the current president may then block them.
An early election has been called to resolve the stalemate. The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul says President Ahmet Necdet Sezer may even use his powers to stall the constitutional reforms beyond a general election, planned for July.
Mr Gul eventually withdrew his presidential bid, which failed despite the AK party's large majority in parliament. The election was brought forward from November in order to resolve the deadlock over the presidency.
The main opposition boycotted the presidential vote, the military issued a statement warning of a threat to the secular system and the constitutional court eventually declared the vote invalid on a technicality.
DefianceDefiance
The government is now working against the clock to push reforms through parliament before the assembly is dissolved to prepare for a general election. The military had earlier warned that Turkey's secular traditions could be undermined if Mr Gul was elected to the presidency.
KEY DATES 2 May: Ruling party requests early elections6 May: Re-run of parliamentary election for president16 May: President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's term ends22 July: Likely date for early general election (currently set for November) Q&A: Turkey's crisis Tough test for democracyKEY DATES 2 May: Ruling party requests early elections6 May: Re-run of parliamentary election for president16 May: President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's term ends22 July: Likely date for early general election (currently set for November) Q&A: Turkey's crisis Tough test for democracy
The AK believes the Turkish people would opt for its candidate if they were allowed to choose their own head of state. The main opposition boycotted proceedings and the constitutional court declared the presidential vote invalid on a technicality.
With an early election looming, opposition politicians are now forging new alliances hoping to weaken AK control of the next parliament and prevent it imposing its candidate for president once again. Mr Gul eventually withdrew his presidential bid.
But a defiant AK is pushing to change the entire system first by handing the choice over to the people. Opposition politicians are now forging new alliances hoping to weaken AK control of the next parliament and prevent it imposing its candidate for president once again.
That is despite advice that such major constitutional reforms need time and calm consideration. According to our correspondent, a defiant AK is pushing to change the entire system first by handing the choice over to the people.
With a large AK majority in this parliament, the changes are likely to pass in the final round of voting. It is doing so despite advice that such major constitutional reforms need time and calm consideration.
But President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is expected to use his power then to stall the reforms for as long as possible - even until after the general election. The governing party believes the Turkish people would opt for its candidate if they were allowed to choose their own head of state.
Once again the party of power is pitting itself again the establishment and few here believe it can win.