Erdoğan Says He İs Satisfied With The AKP's Election Manifesto

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has submitted the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) draft election manifesto, which includes the adoption of the presidential system among its priorities, President Tayyip Erdoğan has revealed, expressing his satisfaction with its content.

"I should openly express one point: I discussed these issues with the prime minister last week. Mr. Prime Minister has addressed his opinions about the presidential system in a very detailed manner. I have also read it and expressed my own views as well" Erdoğan told reporters before his departure to Slovenia March 30.

In an interview last week, Davutoğlu stated he wrote the section on the presidential system in the election manifesto but did not disclose he already had submitted it to Erdoğan. Davutoğlu is expected to publicize the AKP's election manifesto in mid-April.

"I am of the opinion that he will reflect his views about the presidential system in their election manifesto and the line of the ruling party on this issue will be clear. This is, of course, a very good development for me personally" Erdoğan said.

Erdoğan stressed the proposed presidential system will be a national one but will also benefit from other countries' experiences. "The parliamentary system has become an obstacle [for Turkey's development], we have to move ahead of contemporary civilizations" he said.

"In order to be able to talk about these objectives we need a system change. The will to make this change is in Turkey. It will definitely be national. But can't we benefit from other systems in the world? We should discuss systems of countries that best practice this system and have reached the $40,000, $50,000, $60,000 GDP per capita in a more detailed way. And Turkey should be in an effort to catch these countries. We can't look at countries behind us" he said. - İstanbul