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Turkish legislators adopt once vetoed constitutional amendments package

Türkiye Materials 1 June 2007 16:56 (UTC +04:00)

( Cihan ) - The key constitutional amendments package was adopted at the second round of voting at the Turkish parliament.

The lawmakers passed the package without any changes with 370-21 votes in favor of the measure.

The package still has to be approved by Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer who once vetoed the same package on May 25. Sezer will either pass the law or call for a referendum.

The main opposition MPs from Republican people's Party (CHP) decided to once more go to the Constitutional Court and ask for the cancellation of the vote due to alleged procedural flaws as one of the articles did not receive enough votes.

The package, including reforms on both general and presidential elections, was vetoed by Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and sent back to the parliament for a review.

The first round of the voting was held on Monday and the package got 361 to 368 votes depending on the articles voted.

The package was approved by the parliament on May 11 after lawmakers failed to elect a new president in two rounds of voting in late April and early May under the boycott of the opposition parties.

The package would allow public to choose the president and reduce president's term from seven years to five but grant a chance to run for a second five- year term.

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