Erdogan says up to people to decide presidential system

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday there will be a change of system in the country rather than a change of regime, one day after Turkish parliament approved a bill that would change the current parliamentary system to a presidential one.

"Even though some considers it as a change of regime, it has no relevance," the president was quoted by Turkish press as saying to reporters at Istanbul Ataturk Airport before departing for Tanzania.

"This is a change of the system," Erdogan highlighted.

The president also noted that the final decision will be given by the nation at the referendum, which is expected to be held in early April.

"Even if the nation will approve the decision at the referendum, an immediate election is not an issue right after the approval," he also added there will be an electoral process. "We will go to an election again in 2019."

Erdogan said the latest survey demonstrates that Turkish people lean on new system at a large extent.

Turkey's shifting to a presidential system requires a simple majority, or 51 percent in the referendum.

Turkish lawmakers approved the bill on 18-article constitutional changes in a final vote early Saturday as a total of 339 legislators voted for and 142 against. Endit