VZCZCXRO9210
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAK #1561 1700944
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 190944Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2648
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5//
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEUITH/TLO ANKARA TU
RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU

UNCLAS ANKARA 001561 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH PRESIDENT ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK DIRECT 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION EFFORTS 
 
REF: ANKARA 1539 
 
¶1. (U)  Turkey's president filed a petition with the 
Constitutional Court on June 18, asking the court to annul 
the constitutional amendment package that would move the 
country to direct presidential elections (reftel).  The Court 
will combine Sezer's challenge, which is based on procedural 
defects in the way parliament adopted the package, with a 
similar challenge filed earlier by main opposition Republican 
People's Party (CHP).  The two cases are under review and the 
Court is expected to hear the combined case next week.  If 
the Court annuls the package, it will eliminate the need for 
a referendum on the amendments, now slated for October. 
 
¶2. (U) Sezer also vetoed legislation that would have reduced 
from 120 to 45 days the waiting period required before 
holding a referendum on a constitutional amendment. 
Parliament adopted the change before recessing on June 3 in 
an effort to take the direct presidential election amendment 
to the people on July 22, the same day set for general 
elections. Sezer's veto effectively kills the measure. 
 
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ 
 
WILSON