Turkey's parliament approved key articles of a constitutional change overnight which would allow the president to be a member of a political party and issue decrees.
The three articles approved overnight set out parliament's supervisory role, enable the president to retain ties with a political party and detail the president's executive powers as head of state, including the power to issue decrees. The articles passed with the support of between 340-343 lawmakers.
Under the planned changes, a president can be elected for a maximum of two five-year terms. The plans envisage presidential and general elections being held in 2019.
The 18-article bill needs the support of at least 330 deputies in the 550-seat assembly to go to a referendum, expected in the spring. The AKP has 316 deputies eligible to vote and the MHP 39.
The changes will need to pass in two more rounds of voting before the constitutional package as a whole is put to a referendum, expected in the spring.
