Parliament strained as charter talks start

The Turkish parliament began debating on Jan. 9 a constitutional amendment package that will change the system into an executive presidency amid protests by opposition groups that say the move will result in a dictatorship. 

While the four parties represented in parliament gathered to launch the process in the General Assembly, police attacked nongovernmental organizations and political groups outside parliament as they sought to protest the constitutional changes. Police dispersed groups with water cannon and violence. 

"The heads of 100 nongovernmental organizations wanted to come and make statements here [in front of the parliament]. But now you see, parliament is under blockade, the roads are closed, there is a TOMA [a water cannon vehicle]. We are under siege," main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Istanbul lawmaker Aykut Erdoğdu said on Jan. 9, broadcasting the police blockade on the streets leading to parliament via a social media account. 

"It is very wrong to block parliament on the eve of such an important constitutional change that will be discussed in parliament," the main opposition deputy added.

The CHP group is planning to prolong the process by issuing proposals and non-confidence motions in order to emphasize their opposition.

"We think that the longer this process is going to be, the more useful it will be, the more likely these mistakes will be realized, and the constitutional proposal will be completely withdrawn," CHP Deputy Group Chair Özgür Özel told state-run Anadolu Agency on Jan. 9, adding that the discussions which prolonged the process in the parliamentary commission were fruitful in that they created awareness about the importance of the amendment.

Özel's comments came after...