Turkey may hold referendum on presidential system: Spokesperson
Turkey will make a leap forward if it adopts a system strengthening the powers of strongman President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after his ruling party's election win, his spokesperson said on Wednesday.
"We have a clear opinion that the presidential system will help Turkey jump to another league," Ibrahim Kalin told reporters in Ankara, signalling that the issue could be put to the Turkish people in a referendum.
It is no secret that Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics since he became premier in 2003, is seeking to broaden his role into a US-style executive presidency.
In Sunday's election, Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) won 317 seats in the 550-member parliament - still short of the 330 needed to change the constitution and give the president greater powers.
Kalin hinted at a possible referendum, saying: "This is an issue that can be finalised after consulting with the people... If the mechanism to do this is a referendum, then one will be held."
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