Controversial constitutional reforms have been approved in Turkey.<br /><br /> The deputy speaker of parliament announces that 339 MPs voted in favour of giving more executive power to the country’s president, 142 were against, with no abstentions.<br /><br /> Turkey's parliament passes polemic bill to expand the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office. https://t.co/8m6vf0Ul3T— The Associated Press (@AP) January 21, 2017<br /> <br /><br /> Supporters say more presidential authority is needed in uncertain times, but critics say it is too much power in the hands of one man. <br /><br /> A national referendum on the changes will now be held.<br /><br /> Binali Yildirim, the Turkish Prime Minister, told parliament: “Today we, as representatives, have accomplished the task given to us. We are now entrusting this to the people, its actual owners. Now it is the people’s word.”<br /><br /> #UPDATE Turkey's parliament backs controversial bill that would dramatically expand the powers of President Erdogan https://t.co/uF5MLej1zg— AFP news agency (@AFP) January 21, 2017<br /> <br /><br /> The opposition has slammed the reforms as a big step backwards.<br /><br /> Ali Seker, an MP from the opposition CHP party, told reporters: “The state of law, the secular democratic republican regime is completely eradicated. <br /><br /> “They want to drag Turkey rapidly into a period of instability where there is no separation of power, no balance and no control. <br /><br /> “If the public is well informed, the answer will be no.”<br /><br /> On Friday there was mayhem and fighting in the parliament during debate on the reforms after an an opposition MP handcuffed herself to the rostrum. <br /><br /> Mayhem in Turkish parliament after MP handcuffs herself to rostrum https://t.co/58n5H6yKo2— Seamus Kearney (@seamuskearney_) January 20, 2017<br /> <br /><br /> Amid Fistfights, Turkey’s Parliament Backs a New Constitution https://t.co/ZzaXGQju4g— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 21, 2017<br />
