Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1539
2007-06-15 14:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKISH PRESIDENT SENDS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO6798 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAK #1539 1661404 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 151404Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2622 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEUITH/TLO ANKARA TU RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU
UNCLAS ANKARA 001539
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH PRESIDENT SENDS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ON DIRECT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS TO REFERENDUM
REF: ANKARA 1180
UNCLAS ANKARA 001539
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH PRESIDENT SENDS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ON DIRECT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS TO REFERENDUM
REF: ANKARA 1180
1. (U) President Sezer declined on June 15 to approve a
controversial constitutional amendments that would allow for
direct presidential elections, sending the package to
referendum instead. Sezer also plans to apply to the
constitutional court to annul the amendments on unspecified
procedural grounds. Due to a required 120-day waiting
period, a referendum would occur in October and could not be
held simultaneously with the July 22 general elections. If
the court annuls the package before the 120-day waiting
period expires, the referendum will be cancelled.
2. (U) The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)
attempted to reduce the waiting period from 120 to 45 days,
in order to allow a referendum on the amendment package to
coincide with the July elections. Parliament adopted the
change in its final days in session. President Sezer, who
has until June 18 to act, is expected to veto the measure and
return it to parliament's constitutional committee. With
more than half the committee members dropped as candidates
for the upcoming elections and campaigning well-underway by
others, AKP is unlikely to be able to assemble the numbers
needed for further action.
3. (U) The constitutional court is currently studying an
annulment application filed earlier by main opposition
Republican People's Party (CHP). CHP claims the amendments
should be invalidated for voting irregularities. The court
will combine the two applications once the president files
his challenge. According to Acting Constitutional Court
President Hasim Kilic, the matter will be put on the docket
once the court reporter has finished reviewing the case.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH PRESIDENT SENDS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ON DIRECT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS TO REFERENDUM
REF: ANKARA 1180
1. (U) President Sezer declined on June 15 to approve a
controversial constitutional amendments that would allow for
direct presidential elections, sending the package to
referendum instead. Sezer also plans to apply to the
constitutional court to annul the amendments on unspecified
procedural grounds. Due to a required 120-day waiting
period, a referendum would occur in October and could not be
held simultaneously with the July 22 general elections. If
the court annuls the package before the 120-day waiting
period expires, the referendum will be cancelled.
2. (U) The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)
attempted to reduce the waiting period from 120 to 45 days,
in order to allow a referendum on the amendment package to
coincide with the July elections. Parliament adopted the
change in its final days in session. President Sezer, who
has until June 18 to act, is expected to veto the measure and
return it to parliament's constitutional committee. With
more than half the committee members dropped as candidates
for the upcoming elections and campaigning well-underway by
others, AKP is unlikely to be able to assemble the numbers
needed for further action.
3. (U) The constitutional court is currently studying an
annulment application filed earlier by main opposition
Republican People's Party (CHP). CHP claims the amendments
should be invalidated for voting irregularities. The court
will combine the two applications once the president files
his challenge. According to Acting Constitutional Court
President Hasim Kilic, the matter will be put on the docket
once the court reporter has finished reviewing the case.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON