Opposition will have to adapt itself to new system: Turkish PM

ANKARA

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The opposition will have to adapt itself to system change after the April 16 referendum, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said Feb. 24, stressing that the change would solely be about the system and not the regime. 

“The regime is not changing, their chemistry will be changing. They have to adapt to this change. But they are not concerned about that. They are not concerned about being in power,” Yıldırım said. 

“The opposition acts as if it is a matter of life and death. As if there will be a general election, as though parties will go to the polls and elect lawmakers. It is not like that. We did the election on Nov. 1. There will not be any elections. It is a referendum,” he said, rebuking opposition parties that said the charter changes would diminish the parliament’s authority and violate the principle of the separation of powers.   

“The nation will choose the name, it will form the government through the ballot, and ask for account at the ballot boxes. And between two polls, it authorizes the president and the lawmakers. That is it. All the words uttered apart from this, is babble, it is only confusing and depraving the nation with false declarations,” he said. 

Defending the constitutional amendment, which seeks to remove the vote of confidence and interpellation duties of the parliament, Yıldırım said the use of the vote of confidence would obstruct the national will.  

“There are invisible powers inside Ankara,” he said. 

“The nation has not been able to decide on who will rule the country with the polls. That’s where the dirty tricks begin. Those who were chosen by groups of tutelage used to form the governments, not those who were chosen by the nation,” he said, adding that by removing the vote of confidence mechanism, the implementation of the national will would be ensured. 

“The parliament will fulfill its own duty, the government will fulfill its own duty. The parliament will pass laws, and it will supervise the government on behalf of the public. Working with democratic powers within the checks and balances system will be ensured,” he added.