Turkish assembly passes polemic bill to boost President Erdogan's powers

Turkey's parliament has approved a contentious constitutional reform package, paving the way for a referendum on a presidential system that would greatly expand the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office.

In an all-night session that ended early today, lawmakers voted in favour of a set of amendments presented by the ruling party, founded by Erdogan. The reform bill cleared the minimum threshold necessary to put the measures to a national referendum for final approval.

The vote took place with 488 lawmakers out of the 550-seat assembly in attendance. A total of 339 parliamentarians voted yes, 142 no, five cast empty ballots and two were ruled out as invalid.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim celebrated the result saying "we are now entrusting this to the people, its actual owners. Now it's the people's word. It is the people's decision."

A public vote on the issue is expected as early as March 26, and no later than mid-April, according to officials of the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP.