Turkey’s PM Frontrunner Backs Transition to Presidential System

Turkey’s priority is to complete the transition to a presidential ruling system that would finalize President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bid to consolidate power, prime ministerial frontrunner Binali Yildirim said at the ruling party’s extraordinary meeting Sunday.

ANKARA (Sputnik) – Yildirim, described as an Erdogan's loyalist, is widely expected to replace outgoing Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu at the Justice and Development Party (AKP) convention.

"Tunnels, trains and roads – that’s all well and good. But we have one flaw: we need a new constitution and presidential system. What we need today is bring this into the legal field," Yildirim addressed fellow party members.

Despite vocal foreign and domestic concerns, Erdogan is poised to hold a referendum to abolish the 1923 constitution and its parliamentary system to complete his executive sweep.