Erdo?an wants 400 deputies for his former AKP at Turkish elections

Disregarding opposition criticism of his direct involvement in politics, President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an once again appealed for votes for his former Justice and Development Party (AKP) without explicitly giving the party?s name, declaring that ?400 lawmakers? are needed for a ?new Turkey.?  

?If we want a new Turkey at the June 7 elections, we will give it 400 lawmakers,? Erdo?an said, speaking at a public rally in the northwestern province of Bursa on Feb. 6. 

He linked several key issues to this newly set goal, including his desired shift to the presidential system. 

?What we say is that if we want a new constitution, we have to reach 400 lawmakers,? he said. 
At least 330 deputies in parliament are needed to change the constitution. 

?If we want the presidential system, then we have to give 400 lawmakers. If we want the resolution process to continue, we have to give 400 lawmakers so that a strong party can come to power to realize it,? Erdo?an added, referring to the ongoing talks to find a peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue. 

He also slammed opposition criticism that the nominally impartial president should not hold partisan public meetings ahead of elections. 

?Some people cannot stand such events. One of the [opposition] parties made a deputy apply to the High Election Board to make the president stop talking before the elections. But the board did not accept such an application. They want the president to sit in his chair in Ankara and not to intervene in their business. They just want the president to sign a few papers. But I have said I will not be a passive president. That is why 55 percent of this nation voted for us,? he said, referring to last year?s presidential election. Erdo?an became...