ISTANBUL
The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
Thursday's dailies mainly covered Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks in the plane returning to Ankara after his one-day visit to the Iranian capital Tehran.
“335 is enough for presidency,” was HABER TURK’s headline, a reference to Erdogan’s earlier remark that 400 lawmakers at the June 7 general elections were needed in the Turkish parliament to implement a presidential system.
The daily quoted Erdogan as saying: “My hope is to find the necessary number for the new constitution. If it is not 400, let’s say 335; we will have a chance to have a referendum.”
Erdogan has been pushing for a far-reaching constitutional amendment to allow for a new presidential system in Turkey. He was elected as head of state last August.
Still, according to the current Turkish Constitution, such a change requires the approval of two-thirds (367) of the (550) lawmakers. Only then can the president approve it or hold a referendum on the matter.
“(Erdogan) lashes out at bars,” titled MILLIYET, reporting that Erdogan blasted the Turkish Bar Association for criticizing new security measures requiring the search of lawyers at courthouse entrances, implemented after the death of prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz after being taken hostage in an Istanbul courthouse on March 31. The hostage-takers had passed themselves off as lawyers.
The newspaper quoted Erdogan saying that lawyers should be searched before entering a courthouse.
June elections continue to monopolize space in Turkish dailies as they analyzed political parties’ lists of candidates.
“8 points from lists,” headlined HURRIYET, which gave eight essential items learned from the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's list.
The daily reported that the list showed that Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was indisputably the "second man" behind the “natural leader Erdogan” in the future of the group.
It also pointed out that there were no Alevis among the candidates.
“500 million TL race begins,” said HABER TURK reporting that candidates will spend a total of 100 million TL ($ 38.5 million) on their campaigns - political parties will add another 200 million Turkish liras ($77 million), while Turkey’s Supreme Election Board will need 200 million Turkish liras to organize the elections.
