Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors one year later: You are healing from your wounds and rising above them. You have successfully passed the test
Palestinian media: Reports of stabbing operation in occupied al-Quds.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Arava in South, near Ramon Airport.
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country

Turkey's opposition vows to limit powers of president if elections won

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 30 Jan 2023 18:19
4 Min Read

The Turkish opposition alliance says they will revoke constitutional changes introduced by Turkish President Erdogan and restore democracy to the country's parliament.

  • x
  • sdsad
    Leaders of the six-party opposition alliance pose with Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu during a rally to oppose the conviction and political ban of Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Turkey, on December 15, 2022. (Reuters)

Turkey's opposition alliance said on Monday that they will limit the authority of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and return democracy to the parliamentary institution in case they win the upcoming elections planned on May 14.

The alliance, consisting of six opposition parties, pledged to announce a joint candidate for the presidential position on February 13.

The upcoming elections are considered to be one of the most significant milestones in the past decades.

According to the coalition's proposals, Turkey would reactivate the position of the prime minister as head of the executive branch and provide it with a strong cabinet, while the position of the president will be largely symbolic and elected for one term every 7 years.

Read more: Turkish Opposition alliance: presidential system root for all problems

In addition, the judicial system will be reformed in an effort to ensure the independence of the judiciary and a fair trial, and the Bar Association of Turkey will gain special status through the new charter.

"We will shift to a strengthened parliamentary system," the opposition's program says.

"We will put an end to the president's power to issue decrees."

Erdogan has been sitting in the country's top positions since 2003.

Starting as a prime minister, Turkey's leader was elected president in 2014 and has since introduced many laws that expand the position's authorities and jurisdiction, most notably in 2017 when he issued constitutional changes that granted him full power in the country.

Erdogan broadened his authority following a failed coup attempt in 2016 that almost placed the country's future in uncertainty.

CHP deputy leader Muharrem Erkek said last November that Turkey has been governed in accordance with the executive presidential system since 2018 and that all the country's problems are linked to the shortcomings of the system and called for changing it.

Related News

Arab-Islamic summit slams Israeli strike on Qatar, urges unity

CHP rallies tens of thousands in Ankara against 'judicial coup'

“Therefore we need to change the system. We will submit our proposals to the parliament right after the elections,” he stated then.

How does it work

Constitutional changes pursued by the opposition can be ratified if the parties were able to secure 400 out of the 600 votes in parliament.

However, if the alliance lands 360 votes, the changes will be then subjected to a national referendum.

The Turkish President lost the majority of the parliament in 2015 for the first time in 13 years and now counts on support from a far-right party.

Read more: Thousands protest against conviction of Istanbul mayor

According to polls, the elections will result in a minority win for either alliance.

The opposition allies vowed to "urgently" introduce constitutional changes and "put an end to the vague and arbitrary restriction of the freedoms of assembly and demonstration."

"We will strengthen the freedoms of thought, opinion and expression."

Program vows

In a ceremony, the opposition revealed their program in the presence of a crowd of supporters.

The program pledged to crack down on corruption in the country and reinstate the power of Turkey's institutions, including the state-owned media outlets TRT and Anadolu, to which the alliance said they would make them abide by "the principles of independence and impartiality."

The importance of restoring "mutual trust" with the US and attaining Turkey's long-desired goal of obtaining a "full membership in the European Union" are among the vows sought in the program.

"We will maintain relations with the Russian Federation with an understanding that both parties are equal and strengthened by balanced and constructive dialogue at the institutional level," the program stressed.

Read more: Turkish opposition leader stabbed at party HQs in Ankara

  • Turkey
  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan
  • Turkish elections

Most Read

Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS