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Turkish parliament to vote to extend state of emergency for 3 more months

Xinhua, January 4, 2017 Adjust font size:

The Turkish parliament will vote this week to extend the state of emergency for another three months starting from Jan. 19, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Tuesday.

The announcement came during a parliamentary group meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party, private broadcaster NTV reported.

The upcoming parliamentary vote will be for the third term of the state of emergency.

Turkey declared a state of emergency on July 20, 2016, days after a failed military coup, which Ankara blames on the U.S.-based exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Under emergency rule, the government can bypass the parliament to enact new laws and limit or suspend rights and freedoms.

Yildirim also confirmed that debates on a bill to change the Turkey's constitution will start in parliament next week.

According to the report, the draft will be submitted to the General Assembly on Jan. 9 and is expected to be approved by the end of the month.

The bill grants extended power to the president and allows the president to remain the head of his or her political party.

The Turkish government has said it would put the constitutional changes to a referendum, even if the proposals had gained enough support from lawmakers to pass through the parliament. Endit