The Turkish government has begun preparations to conduct a general referendum, which will resolve the fate of the Turkish constitution, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on May 6, Hurriyet newspaper reported.
The Turkish government started to prepare for the referendum to fully change the constitution.
Initially, the changes to the constitution must be approved by the Turkish Parliament. If Turkish MPs abandon constitutional amendments, then the government will present the issue for referendum.
The changes envisage extending term of presidential powers, re-nomination of the president, whose term has expired, implementation of the ombudsman's activities in the country and complication of the closure of political parties.
Turkish leadership considers the existing constitution as an obstacle to country's development. Until now, despite the statements of the previous coalition governments that the Turkish Constitution protects the military junta, no serious steps have been taken to change the basic law of the country.