‘Presidential elections no bed of roses’ since 1961, Çiçek recalls

ANKARA

Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek has said that Turkey has never once passed through a peaceful presidential election process since 1961, recalling that the debate over the presidential elections in 2007 began one-and-a-half years before the election.

“Presidential elections have always been a pain in the stomach in our country. Starting from 1961 we have never been able to enjoy the occasion of a presidential election,” Çiçek was quoted as saying by Anatolia news agency.

Çiçek’s words came just hours after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan underlined on Tuesday the significance of the next presidential elections for his party, and his inner circle disclosed ongoing legislative work for proposing a presidential system or a system that would have allowed a party-connected president.