Erdogan Said to Start Campaign for Presidential System in April
- Ruling AK Party drafts charter after bid for consensus failed
- Public support may force lawmakers into action, officials say
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to kick off a campaign to widen the powers of his office in April as he seeks public support for a possible referendum later this year, according to two senior officials with close knowledge of the preparations.
Erdogan will argue that a new constitution should feature a strengthened presidency while retaining a key role for the parliament, said the officials, asking not to be named because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. He’ll also emphasize new checks and balances that would cap the president’s powers, they said, a response to critics who say Erdogan is merely seeking to strengthen his own rule.