Main opposition CHP rules out early elections push if 'no' wins in polls

The main opposition Republican People's Party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has ruled out any possibility that his party will press for snap elections in the event that constitutional amendments are not approved in an April 16 referendum.

"There won't be a call for snap elections. Why would there be any snap elections? I would not find it right to go to snap elections at a time when Turkey has too many problems at hand," Kılıçdaroğlu said in a televised interview on late March 22.

"However, the majority is not held by us, it is held by the ruling party. If they say 'we will go to snap elections,' then they will issue a draft bill for that. Who will make the decision then? Not one person will decide on that, 550 lawmakers will sit and discuss it," he said, underlining that the constitutional framework would be protected if the amendment is not approved.

"If the 'no' votes prevail, the public's message will be this: 'We elected [MPs] and sent them to Parliament; we also elected Erdoğan as president. This country has so many problems in the economy, unemployment and foreign policy, so stay in your posts and solve those problems, develop a collaborative culture and let shared wisdom prevail," he added.

President to be granted excessive authorities

The problem with the constitutional amendments lies in the fact that the president will be granted excessive authorities, Kılıçdaroğlu said.

"This president may not perform all the authorities but another one may do so. For example with one decree, the president may say 'I am annulling retirement pay,' and that will be that. Will he or she have the authority to do that? Yes. So, why not?" he said.

"Today, this authority is granted to the parliament...