The Turkish parliamentary commission supervised by Mustafa Shentop, a member of the Justice and Development Party, introduced amendments to presidential terms set in the Constitution. President Abdullah Gul’s terms of office end in 2014, Trend reports.
Gul became president in 2007, before the referendum. He was elected by the parliament for 7 years without the right for a new term. After amendments to the Constitution through a referendum, the terms of office were reduced to 5 years with a re-election opportunity.
The constitutional amendments passed by the Turkish Parliament in May 2007 allow direct presidential elections for 5 years with an opportunity for re-election for the second term. The elections are held in two stages. The parliament’s terms of office were reduced from 5 to 4 years. The quorum also underwent changes.
