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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Turkish reforms face final vote | Turkish reforms face final vote |
| (10 minutes 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 tabled the reforms after MPs failed to elect its presidential candidate, Abdullah Gul. | The governing AK party tabled the reforms after MPs failed to elect its presidential candidate, Abdullah Gul. |
| Turkish secularists opposed Mr Gul, accusing him of an Islamist agenda. | Turkish secularists opposed Mr Gul, accusing him of an Islamist agenda. |
| Our correspondent says the reforms may well be approved because of the AKP's parliamentary majority - but the current president may then block them. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| The election was brought forward from November in order to resolve the deadlock over the presidency. | The election was brought forward from November in order to resolve the deadlock over the presidency. |
| Defiance | Defiance |
| The military had earlier warned that Turkey's secular traditions could be undermined if Mr Gul was elected to the presidency. | 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 democracy | 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 democracy |
| The main opposition boycotted proceedings and the constitutional court declared the presidential vote invalid on a technicality. | The main opposition boycotted proceedings and the constitutional court declared the presidential vote invalid on a technicality. |
| Mr Gul eventually withdrew his presidential bid. | Mr Gul eventually withdrew his presidential bid. |
| Opposition politicians are now forging new alliances hoping to weaken AKP control of the next parliament and prevent it imposing its candidate for president once again. | |
| According to our correspondent, a defiant AKP is pushing to change the entire system first by handing the choice over to the people. | |
| It is doing so despite advice that such major constitutional reforms need time and calm consideration. | It is doing so despite advice that such major constitutional reforms need time and calm consideration. |
| The governing party believes the Turkish people would opt for its candidate if they were allowed to choose their own head of state. | The governing party believes the Turkish people would opt for its candidate if they were allowed to choose their own head of state. |