The Heat: The Referendum in Turkey

The Heat

Turkey Referendum

Turkey is holding a constitutional referendum this weekend on replacing its parliamentary system with a presidential one.

Voters will weigh in on 18 proposed amendments that could give President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sweeping new powers to appoint ministers, prepare a budget and enact certain laws by decree.

For more on the referendum, CGTN’s Natalie Carney reports from Istanbul.

To discuss the Turkish referendum and how it could impact the country’s future:

  • Ahmet Berat Conkar, a member of the Turkish Parliament and deputy of the Justice and Development Party, known as the AK Parti.

For a final review of the referendum and Turkey moving forward:

  • Fatma Muge Gocek, professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies at the University of Michigan.
  • Erik Nisbet, associate professor with Mershon Center for International Security Studies at Ohio State University.
  • Hakan Camuz, international legal consultant based in London.

For more:

Ahmet Berat Conkar, a member of the Turkish Parliament and Deputy of Istanbul’s AK Parti, was a recent guest on The Heat to discuss the upcoming referendum in Turkey. Millions of voters will decide on April 16 whether Turkey should replace its parliamentary system with an executive presidency. The Heat’s Host, Anand Naidoo, asked him about the impact of last year’s failed coup, that led to a government crackdown, and a large number of arrests, including journalists.