Citizens seek change with charter referendum: Turkish PM

Turkey's citizens are awaiting major changes with a new constitution that is set for a public vote, according to Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım. 

"The citizens are pushing for a change, they want change. We will not be the side that resists it," he said during an address at a governing board meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Jan. 25.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan echoed a similar stance while speaking to journalists in Madagascar during a press meeting with his counterpart, Hery Rajaonarimampianina. 

The new charter draft will offer solutions to many existing problems, said Yıldırım. 

He slammed the opposition's criticism of the amendment for violating the separation of powers between the legislative, executive and judiciary, while also diminishing the power of parliament. 

He argued that the amendment, on the contrary, strengthened parliament's work.

"General debates, written questions, parliamentary inquiries, lawmaking and the power to supervise president [will all be featured]. [The parliament] will have the right to call the ministers to account," Yıldırım said. 

"In the existing system, the parliament does what the ruling party wants, let's be frank. But with the new system, the parliament, as a separate legal entity, [will be in a place in which] each lawmaker can propose a law, defend it and make it come into effect," he said.

"The power of the lawmakers will be enhanced, leaving room for lawmakers to spare more time for national matters," he added. 

Yıldırım also argued that the top judicial body would reflect the public will.

"Actually, the power of the parliament will increase. Why, because parliament also determines the administrative...