January 20, 2017•Update: January 21, 2017
ANKARA
The final articles of a constitutional reform package was approved early Saturday by Parliament and is likely headed for a referendum vote in April.
Lawmakers passed articles 15-18 after 8-14 were approved throughout Friday.
A second round of voting on the 18 articles began Wednesday after almost three weeks of debates in parliament.
The initial round of ballots on the reforms was completed after each passed with more than 340 votes.
The final articles adopted concern the annual budget, the removal of the Council of Ministers, regulations on presidential and parliamentary elections and a provision that allows the president to retain ties to his or her political party.
Deputies have begun voting on the entire package.
If that passes parliament with at least 330 of 550 deputies, the new articles will be put to vote in a national referendum.
If the reforms obtain the support of 367 lawmakers, it can become law without a referendum although President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would push for a referendum even if the draft is approved by a two-thirds majority.
Proposed changes to the Constitution require a simple majority, or 51 percent, in the referendum.
The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party has 316 seats and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) -- which has so far supported the constitutional changes -- has 39 seats.
Approval votes from the two parties would be enough to secure a referendum.
A first round of ballots on the reforms was completed as lawmakers passed 18 articles -- each with more than 340 approval votes.
Lawmakers are voting again on each article for a second time and on the entire package.
Earlier Friday, MPs approved articles 8-11. Articles 12-15 were adopted late Friday, the remaining articles' adoption have been completed early Saturday.
Article 12 dealing with "state of emergency administration,” was passed with 342 lawmakers voting.
The 13th and 14th articles, deals with "the military courts" and structural reforms to the nation’s highest judicial body, passed with 343 and 342 votes respectively.
Article 13 stipulates that military courts cannot be established except for disciplinary ones. According to article 14, the new body that will be renamed the Judges and Prosecutors' Council, retains its independence, own budget, and the Minister of Justice will be president of the Council.
Three members will be elected by the country’s president while the remaining members will be elected parliament. Elections to the Council will be held every four years and members can be re-elected.
Article 15 that regulates the annual budget was passed with 342 lawmakers voting.
Article 16, which removes the 'Council of Ministers' was passed with 342 lawmakers saying voting in favour of.
Article 17, which regulates the next parliament elections and president election that will be held on 2019, was passed with 341 'Yes' votes.
The last article on the constitution change, Article 18, was passed with 343 'Yes' votes. Article 18 allows the president to keep his or her ties with his / her political party.
If the entire package passes parliament with at least 330 of 550 deputies, the new articles will be put to vote in a national referendum.
If the reforms obtain the support of 367 lawmakers, it can pass into law without a referendum although President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would push for a referendum even if the draft is approved by a two-thirds majority.
Proposed changes to the Constitution require a simple majority, or 51 percent, in the referendum.
The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party has 316 seats and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) -- which has so far supported the constitutional change -- has 39 seats.
Approval votes from the two parties would be enough to secure a referendum.
