In Turkey, a Different Kind of Presidential Vote
Analysis
April 14, 2017 | 09:30 GMT Print
Whether the April 16 referendum on constitutional reform passes or fails, the ruling Justice and Development Party will keep pursuing its domestic and foreign policy goals to address Turkey's security concerns.
Those concerns, combined with economic instability, will divide Turkish voters over the referendum.
If the referendum passes, the constitutional reforms will transform the country's government and grant the presidency more power than ever before.
Analysis
Since its founding in 2001, Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has slowly amassed greater and greater power in the country. The party has won pluralities in every legislative election over the past 16 years, and today, it is Turkey's most influential political force. But for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, bringing the parliament under the AKP's control was only a means to an end. The president's ultimate goal is to increase the executive branch's power.
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