Turkey ends campaigning due to referendum on Constitution

Turkey has declared today a ‘day of silence’, due to the referendum on
constitutional amendments on September 12th 2010. The government
authorities said that they are fully prepared. They clarified that the
amendments will allow Turkey to meet standards for joining the EU,
Trend reports, citing Associated Press.

The opposition says that the amendments will allow the authorities to
control the judicial court system. The amendments need 367 out of 550
votes to pass, but only 336 deputies expressed support. Abdullah Gul
will put the issue to a nationwide vote to be held within 60 days of
approval of the bill.

The ruling party explains that the amendments will give more rights to
women and children and strengthen privacy laws.

Some days earlier the parliament had voted down an amendment
complicating the dissolution of political parties.

The AK Party itself barely avoided dissolution in 2008, when it was
accused of undermining secularism, which is the basis of the political
system in Turkey. In 1982, when Turkey adopted the Constitution, 20
political unions were dissolved.