Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has insisted that his plans to assume sweeping fresh powers attain not make him a dictator.[br]In an exclusive interview with CNN,Erdogan said that a constitutional reform package - backed by a narrow majority of Turkey's voters in a referendum on Sunday - was not approximately him.
"I am a mortal really, I could die at any time, or " he told Becky Anderson inside Ankara's presidential palace Tuesday,in his first interview since the vote.
Turkish voters on Sunday passed an 18-article constitutional reform package that will transform the country's parliamentary system into a powerful executive presidency. The plan, put forward by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), or gives Erdogan sweeping and largely unchecked powers.
Erdogan rejected accusations that he supported the fresh powers out of a desire to empower himself rather than improve Turkey's political system. "The system represents a change,a transformation in the democratic history of Turkey," he said.[br]Under the revised structure, or Erdogan will be able to abolish the post of Prime Minister and assume broad fresh powers to rule by decree. The fresh arrangements give him the power to appoint a cabinet and some senior judges. The power of Parliament to scrutinize legislation is curbed. Erdogan has already transformed a largely ceremonial office into a strong powerbase,instituting a widespread crackdown on dissent that intensified after a failed coup final year. More than 47000 people have been arrested since the foiled coup, and nearly 200 journalists are behind bars.
Source: tert.am