Turkey Tables Constitutional Change Bill to Parliament

Turkey's President says constitutional amendments will be put to a referendum regardless of whether a two-thirds majority is secured during the vote. File photo, EPA/BGNES

A lawmaker with Turkey's ruling party has submitted constitutional amendment proposals to the legislature, state-run Anadolu Agency reports.

Mustafa Elitaş, who chairs the Justice and Development party (AKP)'s faction in Parliament, has introduced the bill which has on it the signatures of all MPs with the party (316).

If approved, the amendments will tilt the country toward a presidential system, giving the head of state executive powers, but also allowing him or her to maintain ties with the own party.

Parliament will also increase the number of lawmakers by 50, to 600.

They also include changes to the Prime Minister's office and role, with no parliamentary majority needed to secure a new administration.

The draft will require at least 330 votes in the legislature to put the changes to a referendum. In case it gets 367 of all 550 votes, it can be passed directly, but the AKP has vowed to let Turkish citizens have a say.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) officials have already said they will back the amendmets, securing the majority needed to trigger a national poll.

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