Turkey to change Constitution to move closer to EU

Turkey’s government said on Monday it would table several changes to the Constitution to make it more democratic and to boost the chance for its entry into the European Union.

Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said the constitutional amendments must be adopted and the government will seek backing from the opposition. If the government fails to muster support from opposition MPs, it will hold a referendum.

The EU-inspired changes, which would make it harder to ban political parties and reform the way judges and prosecutors are appointed, will be subject to referendum if they fail to win legislative approval.