Turkey's oppostion candidate Ihsanoglu warns against a presidential system

During the first television interview since his nomination, the joint presidential candidate of Turkey’s two main opposition parties, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu noted that the current parliamentary system fits the country better than any presidential system would.

“My personal opinion is that parliamentary system suits us [Turkey]. If we leave this system, then it would harm us. There are not many examples of that. The most known example is in the United States. But its history and ours are different. Our history is similar to Europe’s. Turkey has a different structure from the day it was founded,” Ihsanoglu said during a 3 July interview with CNNTurk.

Ihsanogul’s comments come after Recep Tayyib Erdogan, leader of the leading AKP announced on 1 July his nomination for the presidential race. Erdogan has sought to change the Turkish Constitution to give the president more powers. The current Constitution does not allow for a full-blown presidential system.

Ihsanoglu, who was nominated by the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), warned that “a Frankenstein would be created, if only the head [presidential system] is adopted without changing the other structures of the state accordingly.” 

The presidential candidate also said there should be a public consensus on a possible change to the parliamentary system.

Ihsanoglu said the president of Turkey should be a centre of problem-solving and neutral in politics, acting as acting a referee.

“Politics should be conducted in parliament,” he added.

The former head of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also outlined his opinions about the ongoing Kurdish peace process, noting that the solution to the Kurdish problem should be discussed by Parliament. 

“Those who do not support the solution support the war. Those who do not side with peace side with death. We want peace. We want to heal these wounds… We have lost more than 30,000 people since the 1980s,” said Ihsanoglu. 

He also encouraged a continued dialogue in parliament regarding the Kurdish issue.

“Such efforts should continue with great sensitivity. After a certain point, the Parliament should be involved in such processes. I am calling on all the political parties. This issue has to be discussed under the roof of Parliament. We have some obstacles and have to overcome them,” he added.

With accession to the European Union being an ongoing point of discussion, Ihsanoglu supported steps taken in that direction, saying accession is a significant goal for Turkey.

“The European Union is Turkey’s goal since the 1950s. Turkey has always wanted to join since those years. I think it is the last station for Turkey and the Turkish nation in the West. We will be able to complete a historical transformation if we achieve this goal,” he added.