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Turkey MPs back president reform Turkish MPs back reform package
(about 4 hours later)
Turkey's parliament has approved a major constitutional amendment that allows the president to be elected by the people rather than MPs.Turkey's parliament has approved a major constitutional amendment that allows the president to be elected by the people rather than MPs.
The measure is part of a set of amendments proposed by the governing AK Party after MPs failed to elect its presidential candidate, Abdullah Gul. More than two-thirds of MPs backed the amendment and several other reforms, proposed by the governing AK Party.
Turkish secularists oppose Mr Gul, accusing him of an Islamist agenda. The vote came after MPs had failed to elect the AKP's presidential candidate, Abdullah Gul. Turkish secularists suspect the AKP has an Islamist agenda.
The full package must be approved before being sent to the president, who has signalled he may veto it. The reform package might yet be vetoed by the staunchly secularist president.
A total of 370 legislators in the 550-seat house voted in favour of the amendment to change the current system of presidential election by parliament. There were 55 MPs opposing it. The package got the support of 376 MPs in the 550-seat assembly. It includes a proposal to make the presidential term a renewable five years, instead of the current single seven-year term.
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul says President Ahmet Necdet Sezer may use his powers to stall the constitutional reforms beyond a general election, planned for July. The BBC's Pam O'Toole says that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer can only veto the reforms once - but he could also take the issue to a referendum or to the constitutional court.
He may use his powers to stall the reforms beyond the general election set for 22 July.
The election was brought forward from November to try to resolve the deadlock over the presidency.The election was brought forward from November to try to resolve the deadlock over the presidency.
Defiance Alliances
The military had earlier warned that Turkey's secular traditions could be undermined if Mr Gul were elected to the presidency.The military had earlier warned that Turkey's secular traditions could be undermined if Mr Gul were 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 main secular opposition boycotted two attempts by parliament to elect Mr Gul and the constitutional court declared the presidential vote invalid because of the lack of a quorum.The main secular opposition boycotted two attempts by parliament to elect Mr Gul and the constitutional court declared the presidential vote invalid because of the lack of a quorum.
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. 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.
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.
"With these changes the people will overcome the deadlock," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after the vote on Thursday.
In the run-up to the July election his grassroots supporters could exploit a delay to the reforms, by arguing that secularists are now preventing the people from electing a president, Pam O'Toole says.