Turkish govt, nationalists agree on presidential system

By Ferdi Turkten

TRABZON, Turkey

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Friday his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party will change Turkey’s constitution to bring in a presidential system with help from the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

In a speech delivered in Turkey's northeastern Trabzon province, Yildirim said: "We will make the constitutional change with the MHP and will put the presidential system into effect."

Yildirim praised MHP leader Devlet Bahceli, saying he had “taken responsibility for solving this important issue".

Constitutional change -- in particular, the call for a presidential system -- has been on the political agenda since Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the former prime minister and AK Party leader, was elected Turkey's president in August 2014.

That election was the first time a Turkish president was directly chosen by popular vote.