Prime Minister Yıldırım has said that 'the referendum is an opportunity to leap forward, it is a chance for a modern democracy'
The people's choice is the right choice, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said during a Justice and Development Party (AK Party) meeting on Tuesday.
The ruling AK Party and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) voted in favor of the new constitutional reform package that is due to go to a referendum in early April.
“It is wrong to look at the referendum in terms of political parties. The referendum is an opportunity to leap forward, it is a chance for a modern democracy.
“The AK Party is not a political party planning a secret agenda behind closed doors. The proposed changes are in favor of the nation. We are not going to a referendum to protect the Constitution of the 'superior', but to form a constitution that serves the people," Yıldırım said.
Two opposition parties, the People's Republican Party (CHP) and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), oppose the proposed changes.
Aside from the change of governmental system to an executive presidency, other reforms include allowing the president to maintain party affiliation.
There will be changes to the country's highest judicial body, which would be renamed while retaining its independence and own budget.
“Turkey has established global targets. The AK Party has put in and will continue to put in hard work to fulfil these targets, and [we leave] the rest to the people," Yıldırım said.
Designed to contribute to the 2023 vision, a set of goals to be reached by Turkey's centennial in 2023, large scale infrastructure, energy and transportation projects throughout Turkey are progressing rapidly.
