Two articles in the proposed constitutional amendments will go into effect before the 2019 general elections if the “yes” votes emerge from the April 16 referendum, a chief presidential adviser has said.
“If the constitutional amendments pass in the referendum on April 16, two of its articles will go into effect. Apart from that, its first implementation will be on Nov. 3, 2019 but the parliament could bring this date forward if it wants. There are two articles that will go into effect before that. One of them is the reconfiguration of the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors [HSYK] within 30 days with the new method. The other is the opportunity that the president could have ties with a political party if he/she wants. The current constitution has an article suggesting that the elected president should resign from his/her party. This sentence will be omitted in the new constitution,” Özlem Zengin said March 13 at a conference on the executive presidency in the southern province of Antalya.
As a part of the 18-article constitutional amendments, the configuration of the HSYK will be altered, with the number of its members reduced from 22 to 13. Out of 13 members, four will be appointed by the president, while the justice minister – who will be appointed by the president – will be the chair of the board, while the undersecretary will be a permanent member. The seven remaining members will be elected by the parliamentary majority, which will likely be the political party of the president.
The amendment also abolishes the post of the prime minister, enabling the president to retain ties to a political party.
Date: 15/03/2017
