Turkey ruled by de facto presidential system: Turkey’s PM

“The people chose their president. This is already the de facto situation. Now we need to make the new constitution according to the preferences of the people. Whether it be a presidency with a party or a semi-presidency,” Yıldırım told a group of journalists in a meeting at the Çankaya Presidential Compound on June 16, while criticizing the head of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, over recent comments on the presidential system.

“What we care about is sincerity. The head of the CHP said that there can be a U.S.-style presidential system. We said okay. ‘There is a federation model in that system. Are you accepting it?’ he is asking me now. Even elementary school kids now that there is a federal structure. I’ve understood that he is not listening to us. We are after sincerity,” he said. 

Kılıçdaroğlu, a strong opponent of the presidential system, said the AKP was not intent on just bringing in a presidential system like the one in the U.S., where there are checks and balances.

Saying that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is ready to discuss everything, Yıldırım added that the presidential system was no different than the mayoral system.

“If we are to put it simply, the presidential system is no different than the mayoral system. The people elect the mayor directly. The mayor and the municipal council are elected separately. The mayor then forms his own team. He is accountable to the council. There’s no coalition,” he said. 

Commenting on efforts to form a new charter, Yıldırım said the AKP would present its own proposals to the parliament if no consensus can be found with the other parties.

“We want this constitution of tutelage to change. The parliament should make this constitution. We’ve formed a council. We gave everyone the equal right to speak not in the proportion of their representation. If we can’t make the new charter mutually, we will present our offer to the parliament. Otherwise we could take it to the people,” he said. 

A serious disagreement between the ruling and opposition parties over the former’s attempt to adopt a presidential system through a new constitution has hindered the efforts to produce a new charter so far.