New Turkish Constitution talks collapse due to presidential system row

The ruling and main opposition parties have traded accusations over the dissolving of an inter-party parliamentary panel tasked with drafting a new constitution after just three sessions. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) left the table on Feb. 16, complaining that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) had tried to link all issues to changing Turkey from a parliamentary to a presidential system.

"This commission has ended," Parliament Speaker ?smail Kahraman declared late on Feb. 16, after the third meeting of the commission that started its work less than two weeks ago. 

CHP deputies had said they refused to "give concessions on the founding principles of the constitution and the parliamentary system."

Speaking at a press conference on Feb. 17, Kahraman called on commission members from all four parties represented at parliament - the AKP, the CHP, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) - to return to negotiations. 

"I hope the CHP will give a positive response to this call," Kahraman told reporters in parliament. However, he also said the talks could continue without the CHP, even though officially and procedurally the commission would be assumed as dissolved if one of the parties withdraws. 

When asked whether work could continue with two or three parties, Kahraman responded by saying that "either 330 or 367 votes are required," referring to the number of MPs needed to pass a constitutional change or take a change to a referendum. "If [opposition parties] get involved in work that would provide that number, we would be pleased. God willing, that will happen," he added.

In the Nov. 1, 2015, election the AKP secured 317 seats in the 550-member...