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IRON GRIP

Turkish Parliament Passes Bill to Expand President’s Powers

Could allow Erdogan to remain in office until 2029.

cheats/2017/01/21/turkish-parliament-passes-bill-to-expand-president-s-powers/170121-erdogan-parliament-presidential-powers-cheat_s1gyax

Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Palace/Reuters

The Turkish parliament has passed a constitutional reform bill that could ultimately allow President Tayyip Erdogan to remain in office until 2029. The legislation, passed with 339 votes from 550 members, required 330 votes to allow for a public referendum on the issue. The referendum on the matter is planned for the spring. Erdogan has hailed the measure as a way to ensure stability in the country as it fights off an increasing number of terrorist attacks. His critics fear it will only strengthen authoritarian tendencies that took root after the failed coup attempt last July.

Read it at Reuters

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