The ruling AK Party founded by Erdogan swept back to single-party rule at a snap election on Nov. 1, taking 317 of the 550 seats in parliament, just shy of the 330 seats required to hold a referendum on changing the constitution.
Erdogan argues that Turkey needs an executive presidency similar to that of the United States or Russia, while his critics fear that will consolidate more power in the hands of an authoritarian leader who brooks little dissent.
"The Nov. 1 election ushered in four years of stability and confidence. Let`s make this period a time of reforms, prioritizing a new constitution," Erdogan said at a commemoration ceremony for Turkey`s founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
The comments were later echoed by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who said the country would embark on a major reform process in the next six months and would carry out economic, social and judicial reforms, without giving further details.
Davutoglu also said that the new constitution must ensure freedoms and be based on the separation of powers. The current system creates tensions between the president and the prime minister, he said.
Turkey`s Erdogan calls for new constitution, reform in next four years
10 November 2015
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Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday called for reforms and the creation of a new constitution in the next four years, steps that would move the country closer to the executive presidency he has long sought.
