"But of course it will take a parliamentary decision for that to take action in the form of a constitutional measure so leaders will have to get together and discuss it and if they accept to discuss it then I as president will approve any decision that comes out of the parliament."
This is the first interview given by the president since the attempted military coup on Friday, July 15.
If Turkey does reintroduce the death penalty, it won`t be joining the European Union, according to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini earlier Monday.
Commenting on people`s calls for the death penalty for coup plotters, Erdogan said: "`Why should I keep them and feed them in prisons, for years to come?` -- that`s what the people say."
"They want a swift end to it, because people lost relatives, lost neighbors, lost children... they`re suffering so the people are very sensitive and we have to act very sensibly and sensitively," he added.
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