Germany urges Turkey to protect separation of powers in new system

‘German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on Turkey to ensure that its constitutional principle of separation of powers will be protected as the country is to shift to a new presidential system.
Merkel said after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday that Turkey needed to heed concerns about proposed constitutional changes that would strengthen powers of the president as the country grapples with a sensitive time following a coup attempt in July last year.
“In such a time of profound political upheaval, everything must be done to continue to protect the separation of powers,” said Merkel during a news conference with Erdogan, adding that Ankara must do more to respect “freedom of opinion and the diversity of society” amid a crackdown on those believed to have played a role in the coup attempt.’
Read more: Germany urges Turkey to protect separation of powers in new system