Parliament Approves Constitutional Change
The constitutional amendment package which President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had vetoed was yesterday passed by parliament without any changes. 397 MPs took part in the secret ballot, and 370 voted for, and 21 against it.
Parliament yesterday passed the constitutional amendments that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had previously vetoed.
The changes in the constitution were accepted with 370 votes, while there were 21 votes against, two empty ballot papers, 3 invalid votes and one abstention.
When the package had initially been passed on Monday last week, it had received 361 out of 368 votes.
The package which Sezer vetoed foresees the election of the Turkish president by the people, rather than by parliament, and for five years instead of seven.
Furthermore, a president can be reelected for a second term. The package also changes the procedures for general elections, which will now take place every four years. In addition, new laws allow parliament to assemble with 184 MPs, which represents one third of the 550-seat parliament. (NZ/AG/EÜ)