Turkey’s high court OKs referendum on constitutional reforms, disappointing opposition
By APThursday, July 8, 2010
Turkish court OKs holding referendum on reforms
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s highest court has given the go-ahead for a September referendum on a series of government-backed constitutional reforms by rejecting an opposition request that the measures be canceled.
The Constitutional Court made slight adjustments, however, to two measures that the secular opposition feared would increase the Islamic-oriented government’s sway over the judiciary.
The opposition said Thursday that the adjustments made in the ruling late Wednesday did not go far enough, and has vowed to campaign against the reforms in the referendum.
The reforms would increase the number of Constitutional Court justices and members of a council that oversees prosecutors and judges, giving parliament and the president the right to appoint some of them.
