Early to talk of change to presidential system, says Turkish President Gül

ARTVİN - Doğan News Agency

Turkish President Abdullah Gül visited today the eastern Black Sea province of Artvin. DHA photo

Turkish President Abdullah Gül said it was too early yet to talk about his future roles in politics, while answering a reporter’s question regarding the issue and a possible switch in Turkey’s parliamentary system.

“I have talked on this issue from time to time, when we mention the democratic system, this can be presidential or parliamentarian, or presidency in the end it’s a matter of choices but what matters for us is checks and balances,” Abdullah Gül said today in the eastern province of Artvin. “It is too early to speak about this issues,” he said. 

Gül further said the character of the system was democratic enough, with the rule of law and checks and balances. “The majority decides which system to use,” he said. Commenting on recent unrests, Gül also said “violent protests are unacceptable.” “Without resorting to violence, objections, different ideas can be voiced and protests can be staged. These are natural by definition of democracy. Nobody approves of the protesters resorting violence, occupying squares, paralyzing city life and disturbing others.”