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Turkish president vetoes key constitutional reform package

Türkiye Materials 25 May 2007 19:05 (UTC +04:00)

( Cihan ) - Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer once more used his right to veto another amendment package.

This time, Sezer vetoed the key reform package on major constitutional amendments including the election of the president by direct popular vote, instead of lawmakers.

Sezer said that there was no valid reason for the changes in the current system and returned the package back to the parliament for another voting.

The president said that the changes in the package would bring serious difficulties to the regime and that it would be better if the amendments were discussed publicly and then tackled on at the parliament.

Lawmakers from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), backed by members of a small opposition party, voted 376 to1 in favor of the key constitutional amendments on May 11.

Following the voting at the parliament Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the lawmakers would pass the amendments again without any changes if vetoed.

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