‘Turkey could hold vote on death penalty’

ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that a referendum on whether to bring back the death penalty was possible.

His remarks came just weeks before the country votes on constitutional changes that would expand the powers of the presidency.

“If necessary, let me say one more thing now, we can open a route for a referendum on this (capital punishment),” Erdogan said during a rally in the western city of Manisa.

Turkey abolished the death penalty in 2004 as it made moves to join the European Union -- any reimposition would likely spell the end of an already embattled bid.

Erdogan has repeatedly said he would sign a law bringing back the death penalty if it was approved by parliament, but has not previously mentioned a public vote.

After the July 15, 2016 failed coup which tried to oust Erdogan from power, members of the public have frequently called for the return of capital punishment.

On April 16, the Turkish public will vote on whether to change the current parliamentary system into an executive presidency.