"Turkish lawmakers debate constitutional change after second failed presidential vote
Jeannie Shawl at 8:35 AM ET
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[JURIST] The Turkish parliament opened debate Monday on an amendment to the Turkish constitution [text] that would see the country's president elected by a popular vote rather than by members of parliament, as is current practice. The move comes the day after sole presidential candidate Abdullah Gul [official website; JURIST news archive], currently Turkey's foreign minister, ended his candidacy [AP report] when opposition lawmakers refused to participate in a second parliamentary vote. Gul did not say if he might run in a general election. The first round of presidential balloting [JURIST report], held late last month, was annulled [JURIST report] by the country's Constitutional Court because a two-thirds quorum of legislators did not participate in the vote as required by the constitution. "
More:JURIST - Paper Chase: Turkish lawmakers debate constitutional change after second failed presidential vote
