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Late last week, the parliament of Turkey passed a draft new constitution, which will be put to a referendum in April.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogans ruling Justice and Development Party presents the change as if it were a bit of house-cleaning, and just a matter of moving from a Westminster-style parliamentary system, as in Britain and Canada, to an American-style government with a separation of powers among a president, a congress and a judiciary.

On paper, Turkey is moving from one liberal-democratic political system to another quite similar one. In fact, the proposed change is far less benign. It looks to be about consolidating Mr. Erdogans power.

Under the current constitution, the president is supposed to fill a largely ceremonial role, rather like Canadas governor-general. In fact, Mr. Erdogan, who is evolving into a kind of Turkish Vladimir Putin, has become by far the countrys most powerful man.

If or when Mr. Erdogan becomes the proposed constitutions first executive president, he will be able to serve two consecutive five-year terms in office, and no more. On paper, it looks like the term limit in the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

But Turkey does not have a constitution as stable as the U.S. And if this referendum passes, Mr. Erdogan will have reset the clock.

Mr. Erdogan first became prime minister of Turkey in 2003, and he has become the countrys effective ruler ever since, under different titles. If his current role evolves into an executive presidency, he might not have to retire until 2029.

This presidential prestidigitation might almost be entertaining if Turkish politics were not so volatile. In July, there was an unsuccessful coup by some elements in the armed forces. Mr. Erdogan took advantage of the failed putsch to settle old scores and further consolidate power. He has far too great a taste for declaring states of emergency; the proposed constitution provides for those, too.

This is no time for the people of Turkey to be asked to think about constitutional change. Instead of rewriting the constitution, the Erdogan government should be respecting democracy and restoring calm its own, not least.

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Globe editorial: Erdogan fiddles with constitution; Turkey gets burned - The Globe and Mail

Ankara (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed on Wednesday to rapidly examine a constitutional bill that would expand his powers, ahead of an expected referendum in April on the controversial legislation.

Erdogan's signature would be the final executive step in the adoption of the bill ahead of the public vote, a date for which Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said would be announced this week.

Parliament approved on Saturday the new 18-article constitution, which would create an executive presidency for the first time in Turkey, in the final of two readings.

Brawls erupted in parliament during debates over the bill, which critics fear will lead to one-man rule.

The changes are the most far-reaching constitutional shift since the creation of modern Turkey in 1923.

Erdogan told journalists in Madagascar during a tour of east Africa that he would make his decision on the bill "without delaying too much because the people are waiting for this".

The referendum would be held 60 days after Erdogan's formal approval is published in the Official Gazette, Yildirim said, adding that the date for the plebiscite was expected to be announced this week by the Supreme Election Council (YSK).

"I think it will be in the first half of April, a suitable date would be up until the 20th (of April)," he said.

- 'Decide at once' -

The new constitution would give the head of state the power to appoint and dismiss ministers. There would be no longer a prime minister but instead one or more vice presidents.

Turkish officials have dismissed concerns over the legislation, saying the changes are needed to bring in effective government in a system similar to the United States or France.

But the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) said it would challenge the bill in the constitutional court, an action which Erdogan dismissed as an irrelevance.

"We don't have the right for any preventative action (or) to say 'why are you going there?' in this regard," he said.

"I hope that the constitutional court will at once give its decision on this issue as well."

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has only 317 seats in the 550-seat parliament and sought the support of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to pass the bill in two readings earlier this month.

But Yildirim insisted there would be no "joint campaign" with the MHP to get a "Yes" vote for the changes.

He defended the bill, saying MPs' powers would be "strengthened" and that they would still have the right to bring draft laws to parliament.

Transport Minister Ahmet Arslan also said a presidential system would speed up the decision-making process for infrastructure projects in an interview with the state-run Anadolu news agency on Wednesday.

While Yildirim was speaking the lira plunged to 3.82 against the US dollar, a loss of over one percent on the day, amid fears of continued political instability.

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Erdogan vows to rapidly tackle new Turkey constitution bill - Yahoo News

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he will ratify without delay the constitutional amendment bill forwarded by parliament. The president must approve the package before it goes to a referendum.

Photo by: AA

Erdogan's comments came during a news conference held with Madagascar's President Hery Rajaonarimampianina in Antananarivo.

Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that he would act rapidly on a constitutional bill that willstrengthen the presidency if approved in a nationwide referendum.

Parliament passed the 18-article constitutional reform bill on Saturday. Erdogan must approve the billbefore it can go to a referendum.

The referendum is expected to be held in April. The Supreme Election Council (YSK) will announce the exact date this week, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday.

African visit

Erdoganmade the comments at news conference in Madagascar. He is currently on a three-country trip to Africa aimed at deepening relationships on the continent. Madagascar is his third and last stop.

During his speech he also said that he and Madagascars President Hery Rajaonarimampianina had discussed how relations between the two countries could be further developed and signed several cooperation agreements.

The president stressed that Turkey does not have a colonialist vision in its approach to Africa. He said Turkey's aim is a win-win deal with African nations in every field.

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Erdogan will act rapidly on constitutional reform bill - TRT World

Anadolu Agency

Theresa May to meet Turkey's President Erdogan BBC News Theresa May will visit Turkey on Saturday for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Downing Street has said. The prime minister is expected to discuss trade, defence and security. Mrs May is likely to fly to Ankara from the US, where she is ... Turkey ready to share its know-how with Africa: ErdoganAnadolu Agency Theresa May to meet Recep Erdogan in TurkeyITV News Theresa May urged to raise human rights concerns in talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoganThe Independent Peeblesshire News -Voice of America all 107 news articles »

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Theresa May to meet Turkey's President Erdogan - BBC News

De facto, Turkey already has a presidential system. And a directly elected, notionally ceremonial president in Recep Tayyip Erdogan who regards the state as a personal fiefdom and who, for some time, has wanted to make that reality de jure. New powers which the parliament agreed over the weekend should be devolved to him and which will be put to referendum as constitutional changes will also repeal current term limits and allow Erdogan to serve until 2029. If, that is, the voters re-elect him a couple of times. This is a likely prospect as he basks in near all-time high popularity ratings.

The reform Bill was approved on Saturday by 339 votes in the 550-member assembly after a rancorous debate marked by fistfights. Three MPs were hospitalised and one opposition member lost her artificial arm in a brawl. Erdogans AKP supported the measures, backed by far-right nationalists of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Its passage was eased by the fact that he has jailed 11 MPs of the liberal Kurdish HDP.

The amendments would enable the president to issue decrees, declare emergency rule, appoint ministers, judges and top state officials, abolish the prime ministers office, and dissolve parliament. The opposition says these power strip away balances to Erdogans power. They will also allow the president to resume his notionally vacated leadership of the AKP.

Erdogan already holds many of the new powers by virtue of the emergency legislation enacted after an attempted coup in July. Since then he has had 100,000 state employees fired and jailed more than 40,000, including currently some 80 journalists. The president has hinted that he will now also back parliamentary moves to reintroduce the death penalty, a move that could decisively end any prospect of Turkish EU accession.

Despite understandable concern in the EU not to undermine the willingness of Turkey to halt the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean, it is crucial that the opposition of member states to the gross erosion of human rights and democratic standards is heard loud and clear.

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Turkey: Erdogan uses the state to build a bigger personal fiefdom - Irish Times