The Turkish parliament has approved a bill on a major expansion of presidential powers. The bill abolishes the post of prime minister and the president becomes both the chief executive and the head of state with the right at any time to appoint an election or to introduce a state of emergency in the country. His decrees also automatically will gain the force of law.
For the new bill voted 339 deputies, 142 voted against. However, any amendments to the constitution require the support of 367 MPs, therefore, the proposal on the reform will be put to a referendum, which will take place in early April.
The fight over changing the basic law polarized the Turkish society. Erdogan Supporters insist on the need to consolidate power in the hands of the president in the face of the worsening political and economic instability, its opponents point to the danger of concentrating power in the hands of man, who has resorted to repression against his opponents among politicians, journalists, scientists and public figures. -02D-
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The European Union is set to introduce new sanctions targeting Russia’s so-called "shadow fleet" following a high-profile incident in the Baltic Sea that raised concerns over regional security and environmental risks, according to a statement by the European Commission and EU foreign policy chief Kai Kallas.
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Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s ambitious proposal to purchase Greenland, the world’s largest island, has reemerged as a topic of debate, with close aides and allies claiming it remains a serious consideration for his potential second term. However, Greenlandic and Danish officials reiterated their disagreement with this concept, calling it an affront to their sovereignty, according to an article in the New York Post.
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On December 26, flowers were laid at the General Consulate of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Aktau in memory of the Azerbaijanis who lost their lives in the plane crash. Posters appeared on the walls as a tribute to the victims.
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Protests broke out on Tuesday in several predominantly Christian neighborhoods of Damascus after a video circulated online showing a group of people burning a Christmas tree near Hama in central Syria, according to Western media reports.
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