‘Presidential system a way out of conflicts’

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Çiçek implies a presidential system as a way out of existing problems. AA photo

Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek has underlined deficiencies in the current parliamentary system, implying a presidential system as a way out of existing problems without explicitly naming it.

“They call the current system a parliamentary democracy. Is it? Is Parliament functioning properly at the moment? Is policy being produced as it should be?” Çiçek said to daily Akşam. His remarks, which were published on Oct. 31, were delivered during a reception hosted by President Abdullah Gül on the evening of Oct. 29, Republic Day.

Thus, they came before a new divide between the country’s top two officials erupted Oct. 30, when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told President Gül that “double-headed rule” would not be beneficial for Turkey. The president had previously instructed the Ankara governor to tolerate those who wanted to celebrate Republic Day independently, despite the government ban.

Meanwhile, Çiçek also commented on the ongoing work of Parliament’s Constitution Conciliation Commission, emphasizing the need to accelerate the work.