Presidentialism in Turkey. A first appraisal of 2017 Constitutional Reform

Il Presidenzialismo in Turchia. Una prima valutazione della riforma costituzionale del 2017

Abstract

The article focuses on the content of the 2017 constitutional amendment introducing presidentialism in Turkey, having regard to the factors which made this change of the system of government a constant argument in the Turkish political history. Therefore, it discusses the influence of the tutelary role played by the Army since the establishment of the Republic and the origins of the proposals for a presidential system since 1970s. The analysis of the content of the 2017 reform is supplemented with some considerations, led in a comparative perspective, on its main controversial elements and on the national and international reactions to its approval. Some final remarks deal with the topic, often advanced during the political campaign, that the reform may represent a risk for the endurance of democracy in Turkey.