Senior AKP figure favors semi-presidential system over partisan-president system

Nuray Babacan - ANKARA

A senior member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has said a transition into a semi-presidential system would be the ideal formula to fully resolve the deadlock in the current parliamentary system, adding the responsibilities and authorities of the president should be thoroughly defined within a partisan-president system.

AKP Istanbul deputy Mustafa Şentop, who is also the head of parliament’s Constitution Commission, also said beginning a process to make a new constitution was up to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.

There is a need to talk to the leaders of other political parties in such a case, Şentop said on Dec. 4, in remarks delivered after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the country’s “dual-headed system” of rule had to be removed, referring to the powers held by the president and the prime minister, who both come to their positions through elections. 

A transition into a semi-presidential system would be the ideal formula to fully resolve the deadlock in the current parliamentary system, said Şentop, who is one of key architects of the AKP’s constitutional reform package.

“A partisan-president system will not fully resolve the problem. In case of a consensus on this formula, then there is need for a thorough definition. The president’s existing wide authorities should be redefined and he should be held responsible, thus building a structure consistent within itself. However, I believe that the partisan-president system would create problems in case of having a president and a prime minister from different political parties,” Şentop said.

Article 101 of the current constitution says: “The president-elect, if a member of a party, shall sever his relations with his party and his status as a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly shall cease.” 

“I believe that a well-defined semi-presidential system like in France would be more convenient for Turkey.

There is a need to talk about all of these matters. It is the prime minister who will kick off the process.

Initiative on this issue may be taken by holding contacts with party leaders,” Şentop said.