Sept 12 (Reuters) - Turkish voters on Sunday approved constitutional reforms that the government says will strengthen the Muslim nation's democracy and help its candidacy for the European Union.
The government has already cut back the power of another pillar of conservative secularism, the armed forces, as part of reforms demanded by the European Union, which Turkey seeks to join. It has also extended its influence in the civil service by appointing supporters, as other ruling parties have done before.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
* Some critics of the AK government would say that at stake is the very future of a country built on secularist principles by its founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The traditional secularist opposition, tainted by accusations of corruption and mismanagement, was swept away by the newly-founded AK in 2002 elections. It remains fragmented and lacks strong leaders to rival Erdogan.
* Some supporters of AK, who range from conservative religious core voters to the urban middle class, say the grip of militant secularists must be broken to allow economic and social reform that could drive the country closer to Europe.
* Critics of AK accuse the government of trying to stifle press criticism and succumbing to arrogance of power.
* The armed forces have seen senior retired and serving officers arrested as part of a series of alleged coup plots -- something once unthinkable.
* With the military effectively silenced, at least for now, the battleground has shifted to the courts. The chief prosecutor accused AK of being a focal point of Islamist activity and attempted to have it banned in 2008. The Constitutional Court ruled AK had breached the secular constitution and fined it, but narrowly deciding against a ban.
* The court in 2008 blocked a government attempt to end a ban on women wearing Muslim headscarves attending university.
WHAT REFORMS ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?
* Turkey is governed by a national charter ratified in 1982 following a military coup two years earlier. It has been amended several times in the last decade as Turkey has sought to meet the political criteria required to advance its EU bid.
* The reforms include changing the way judges are appointed, along with reform of the Constitutional Court.
* Among the most contentious issues is reform of the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), which appoints senior members of courts. The EU has called for reform of the HSYK to ensure its independence and to meet European norms, but critics say the reform will subject it to even stronger political control.
* The HSYK comprises five judges, plus a Justice Ministry official. The government wants to expand the board to 21 members, a third of whom would be appointed by parliament.
(Compiled by Ayla Jean Yackley; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Kevin Liffey) Keywords: TURKEY REFERENDUM/JUDICIARY (ayla.yackley@reuters.com; +90 212 350 7053; Reuters Messaging: ayla.yackley.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The government has already cut back the power of another pillar of conservative secularism, the armed forces, as part of reforms demanded by the European Union, which Turkey seeks to join. It has also extended its influence in the civil service by appointing supporters, as other ruling parties have done before.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
* Some critics of the AK government would say that at stake is the very future of a country built on secularist principles by its founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The traditional secularist opposition, tainted by accusations of corruption and mismanagement, was swept away by the newly-founded AK in 2002 elections. It remains fragmented and lacks strong leaders to rival Erdogan.
* Some supporters of AK, who range from conservative religious core voters to the urban middle class, say the grip of militant secularists must be broken to allow economic and social reform that could drive the country closer to Europe.
* Critics of AK accuse the government of trying to stifle press criticism and succumbing to arrogance of power.
* The armed forces have seen senior retired and serving officers arrested as part of a series of alleged coup plots -- something once unthinkable.
* With the military effectively silenced, at least for now, the battleground has shifted to the courts. The chief prosecutor accused AK of being a focal point of Islamist activity and attempted to have it banned in 2008. The Constitutional Court ruled AK had breached the secular constitution and fined it, but narrowly deciding against a ban.
* The court in 2008 blocked a government attempt to end a ban on women wearing Muslim headscarves attending university.
WHAT REFORMS ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?
* Turkey is governed by a national charter ratified in 1982 following a military coup two years earlier. It has been amended several times in the last decade as Turkey has sought to meet the political criteria required to advance its EU bid.
* The reforms include changing the way judges are appointed, along with reform of the Constitutional Court.
* Among the most contentious issues is reform of the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), which appoints senior members of courts. The EU has called for reform of the HSYK to ensure its independence and to meet European norms, but critics say the reform will subject it to even stronger political control.
* The HSYK comprises five judges, plus a Justice Ministry official. The government wants to expand the board to 21 members, a third of whom would be appointed by parliament.
(Compiled by Ayla Jean Yackley; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Kevin Liffey) Keywords: TURKEY REFERENDUM/JUDICIARY (ayla.yackley@reuters.com; +90 212 350 7053; Reuters Messaging: ayla.yackley.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.