Turkish party proposes direct presidential polls

ANKARA, May 2 (Reuters) Turkey's ruling AK Party will today send to parliament a proposal to have the president elected directly by voters and not by lawmakers, an AK Party deputy said today.

The decision follows Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's call for a snap parliamentary election on June 24 or July 1 to break an impasse with opposition parties, who are backed by the powerful army, over his choice of presidential candidate.

Parliament elects the head of state for a seven-year period.

Under the AK Party proposal, voters would elect the president for five years, renewable by another five years.

''The signatures are ready and we are applying to the parliament today for the election of the president by the people for a five-year term,'' Salih Kapusuz told Reuters.

The AK Party needs a two-thirds majority in parliament to alter the constitution. It has 352 deputies, just short of the number required, but smaller opposition parties have backed the idea of having the president elected by the people.

The AK Party proposal also suggests reducing parliament's term to four years from the current five year period.

In Turkey, the government holds most power but the president appoints key officials and can veto laws once. He also carries great symbolic weight and is commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Secularists, including the military, object to the AK Party candidate, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, because of his Islamist past.

REUTERS ABM KP1415