Turkey’s PM Rallies for ‘Yes’ Vote in Constitution Referendum

Turkish premier has called for support to a package of constitutional amendments which is set to be put on referendum later this year, reports WorldBulletin.net.

“Will you stand up for a constitution that is the work of a military coup or will you stand up for a constitution which is the work of the people? Will you say ‘yes’ to the law of the privileged or will you say ‘yes’ to the supremacy of law,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a rally meeting on Sunday in the western province of Afyonkarahisar.

Turkey is set vote for the referendum on the government-backed constitutional reform package scheduled for September 12, the 30th anniversary of a military coup which eventually led the way for the country’s current constitution.

The ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party argues that the reform package aims at making Turkey more democratic and in line with EU standards.

The package abolishes provisional article 15 of the constitution which does not allow trial of the members of the National Security Council formed after the military coup in 1980.

It also scraps off the ban on right to general strike; and allows one to become a member to more than one workers’ union, and gives civil servants and other public officials the right to collective bargaining.