Gül takes an initiative for amendments to be made outside of the ballot box

President Abdullah Gül embarked upon a round of meetings with leaders from the oppositional parties yesterday in order to discuss his objective of a constitutional amendment package without a referendum.

President Gül extended a surprising invitation to leaders of opposition parties with groups in the Assembly, starting with hosting Deniz Baykal from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Today, Gül will welcome Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli and Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) leader Selahattin Demirtaş.  

“A REFERENDUM WILL RESULT IN TENSION”

President Abdullah Gül is taking a step to have the constitutional amendment bill the government has been pushing passed without a referendum. Stating, “A referendum will result in tension in the nation,” Gül took the initial step yesterday, by launching a series of meetings with oppositional party leaders, in order for the package to be passed in the Parliament. Within this framework, Gül’s objective is to establish a draft which will work in accordance to all parties. After meeting with the opposition, President Gül will then meet with Prime Minister Erdoğan for their weekly meeting.