Turkey reform bill approved

Turkey's parliament approves a bill on major judicial reforms cementing AK Party's grip on power, a move met with opposition from country's chief prosecutor.

The draft to overhaul the judiciary and the role of the military will now go to President Abdullah Gul for final approval, after which a referendum can be held within 60 days.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, in power since 2002, has succeeded in gaining approval for restructuring the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors and reforming the role of the influential military.

Erdogan said he expects to win an overall vote on the proposed constitutional reform draft on Friday.

As for the referendum, the premier said that he will appeal to the people so that he can garner the required 367 votes for it to be approved outright.

This is while the main opposition Nationalist Action Party lawmaker Oktay Vural said the party will appeal to the Constitutional Court to annual the amendments.

The country's chief prosecutor, who had earlier made an unsuccessful attempt to dismantle the AK Party, described the reforms as "undemocratic."

Erdogan, facing elections next year, said the wide-ranging reforms of the judiciary are vital to meet the demands of the European Union which Turkey seeks to join.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=125686&sectionid=351020204.