Turkey Approves Amendment To Elect President by Popular Vote
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ISTANBUL, Turkey — Parliament yesterday approved a constitutional amendment to elect Turkey’s president by a popular vote, giving even greater weight to midsummer elections that are already shaping up as a divisive referendum on the role of Islam in government.
The overwhelming 376–1 vote by lawmakers opens the door to holding presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously, on July 22. However, the package of electoral reforms could still be blocked by a veto from the country’s resolutely secular president, with whom the ruling party is at odds.
The ruling Justice and Development Party, known by its Turkish initials AKP, believes the changes will help solidify its hold on power. The vote represented a victory for the party, which has its roots in political Islam, after an unexpected political battering over the past month.
