Cablegate: Turkish President Attempts to Block Direct

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FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
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UNCLAS ANKARA 001561

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH PRESIDENT ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK DIRECT
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION EFFORTS

REF: ANKARA 1539

1. (U) Turkey's president filed a petition with the
Constitutional Court on June 18, asking the court to annul
the constitutional amendment package that would move the
country to direct presidential elections (reftel). The Court
will combine Sezer's challenge, which is based on procedural
defects in the way parliament adopted the package, with a
similar challenge filed earlier by main opposition Republican
People's Party (CHP). The two cases are under review and the
Court is expected to hear the combined case next week. If
the Court annuls the package, it will eliminate the need for
a referendum on the amendments, now slated for October.

2. (U) Sezer also vetoed legislation that would have reduced
from 120 to 45 days the waiting period required before
holding a referendum on a constitutional amendment.
Parliament adopted the change before recessing on June 3 in
an effort to take the direct presidential election amendment
to the people on July 22, the same day set for general
elections. Sezer's veto effectively kills the measure.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON

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