President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has sent the proposed amendment to the Turkish constitution back to parliament, arguing that there was no justification for a change in system.

Law 5660 on "Making some Changes to the Turkish Constitution" had been written to change the election of the president from a parliamentary vote to a referendum, to lower the presidential time in office from seven to five years, but to then allow a second term, and to determine that for a presidential election, a third of parliament formed a quorum.

"Referendum problematic"

Sezer justified his veto as follows:

* A powerful prime minister and a president voted by the people and with many powers would create two political instances. Instead of representing balance, the president could well become part of the executive.

* A president voted by the people is incompatible with the parliamentary system of Turkey in its present form. If of the same political leanings, the president and the government would become too powerful to control. If, on the other hand, they were opposed to each other, government authority would suffer and become divided.

* This amendment represents a change in system, and such a change can only be made after public discussion.

* Such a great change should not be made by the present parliament, which only has a short time left (until elections on 22 July).

* A president should not be motivated by worries of whether s/he would be elected for a second term. (TK/AG/EÜ)