ANKARA
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday denied opposition parties’ claims a presidential system would violate Turkey’s current separation of powers.
Speaking at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the presidential complex in Ankara, Erdogan said Republican People’s Party (CHP) and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) claims were untrue.
“The legislative body, executive and judiciary will still exist in the same way as before. There is no point in destroying the separation of powers,” Erdogan said.
The Turkish president also said destroying these institutions was “out of the question”.
Erdogan said the referendum would be held in mid-April and the “ultimate decision maker” -- the Turkish people -- would vote.
Merkel said efforts must be made to ensure the separation of powers and the diversity of society during this “deep political transformation”.
Constitutional reform and the change to a presidential system has been on the political agenda since Erdogan, a former prime minister and Justice and Development (AK) Party leader, was elected president in August 2014.
This marked the first time a Turkish president had been directly chosen by popular vote.
On Dec. 30, a constitutional committee of deputies from the ruling AK Party and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) submitted a proposed bill to parliament for ratification.
The CHP and HDP remain opposed to the proposed changes.
Terrorism
Erdogan also hit out at use of the term “Islamist terror”.
“The term 'Islamist terror' severely upsets us Muslims. Such a term cannot be used; this is not true,” Erdogan said.
The president said Islam and terror “cannot coexist” and added the definition of Islam was peace.
“Please do not use it, because we have to take a stand against it as long as it is used,” he said.
Even though a majority of countries have always condemned Daesh, Erdogan said, Turkey, as a Muslim-majority nation, was leading the fight against the terror group, he added.
After Erdogan’s remarks, the Chancellor said: “We appreciate Muslims and we have to fight in cooperation [against Daesh].”
2016 coup attempt
Merkel also praised Turkish people’s resistance to the defeated coup of July 2016.
However, she said Germany was working on Turkey’s expectations on extraditing Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) fugitives residing there.
Germany, which has a three-million-strong Turkish community, is also among the countries where FETO, led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, has a large network with dozens of private schools, businesses and media organizations.
“We need to have proof to take steps and measures. The courts have been evaluating this evidence,” Merkel said.
“The two countries’ ministers of justice will negotiate on these issues from now on,” she added.
Merkel meets Turkish PM
In a separate meeting Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Ankara wanted more from the German administration in the fight against terrorist groups, particularly FETO and the PKK.
“These terrorist groups became a headache for Turkey but I am sure that they could be a great threat to the whole of Europe in the future,” Yildirim said at a joint news conference with the German leader.
“Terrorism is not only a problem for Turkey and Germany but also a headache for the world. It’s a big threat to America too,” he said.
“So sweeping all terror groups, including Daesh, from the region is a common duty for all of us,” Yildirim added.
The Chancellor's visit was her first to Turkey since the last year’s foiled coup attempt that martyred 248 people.
The Turkish primer thanked Merkel for her solidarity after the July 15 coup plot. “The visit was a significant sign of Turkey-Germany solidarity,” Yildirim said.
Dozens of FETO suspects remain in Germany despite Ankara’s demand for their extradition.
Ankara claimed FETO was the mastermind behind the coup plot which targeted the elected government of Turkey.
FETO is also accused of conducting a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
In the wake of the coup attempt, tens of thousands FETO suspects have been arrested, including many in the armed forces, police, judiciary and education sector.
